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MARTIN KEOWN: Mikel Arteta is LUCKY he is still in a job after he gambled by not playing a striker in Arsenal's Europa League semi-final defeat by Villarreal

Mikel Arteta's tactics and decision-making on Thursday should have sent Arsenal crashing out of Europe and possibly ended his managerial career at the club.

However, remarkably and thanks to that late penalty won by Bukayo Saka, Arsenal find themselves still very much in this tie against Villarreal.

Arteta is being afforded the rare commodity of time and now he's the beneficiary of an even rarer occurrence: a second chance. And this is one he really has to take.

Mikel Arteta took a very risky gamble in Arsenal's Europa League first-leg defeat by Villarreal
Arteta opted not to field a recognised striker in the 2-1 defeat to Unai Emery's men on Thursday

Arteta experimented with a false nine on Thursday, lining up without a recognised centre forward.