Cazorla sees Arsenal reunion hopes quashed despite scoring for Villarreal as Valencia score twice in stoppage time
The winner of Arsenal vs Napoli will play the winner of the all-Spanish clash in the Europa League semi-finals
SANTI CAZORLA saw his hopes of an emotional Arsenal reunion quashed as Valencia scored twice in stoppage time against Villarreal.
The victor of Arsenal vs Napoli will play the winner of the all-Spanish clash in the Europa League semi-finals.
Former Gunners playmaker Cazorla, 34, smashed home a penalty to equalise for Villarreal in the first half of their quarter-final first-leg.
The Spaniard had already been booked in the clash after Goncalo Guedes had gifted Valencia an all-important away goal.
But Cazorla - whose Arsenal career was blighted by injuries - showed nerves of steel to rifle an unstoppable spot-kick into the back of the net.
Unfortunately for Cazorla, Valencia scored twice in the added time to win 3-1 in a crazy finale in Spain.
GUNNER DO IT
Back in North London, the Gunners put in a superb first-leg performance to beat Napoli.
Firstly, Aaron Ramsey completed a superb team move with a smart finish after 14 minutes.
Shortly after, Kalidou Koulibaly - a summer target for Manchester United - gifted the Gunners another with an own goal.
Arsenal have now put one foot in the semi-final thanks to the superb first-leg, a far cry from recent openers against BATE Borisov and Rennes.
Cazorla spent six years at Arsenal having joined from Malaga in 2012 - making 180 appearances, scoring 29 goals.
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However, his latter years were hit with a series of awful injuries, including an incredibly painful-looking Achilles tear.
In fact, the 77-cap Spain international nearly lost his foot after his injury became infected.
Ultimately, Cazorla left Arsenal last summer to head back to Villarreal for his third stint at the club.
