(CNN)
Arsenal's semifinal exit to Villarreal in the Europa League was an
"embarrassment" according to former captain Martin Keown.
The
ex-defender, now working as a television pundit, said Arsenal looked
"lost" as it was dumped out of the competition by the Spanish side on
Thursday.
Arsenal
had lost the first leg 2-1 and couldn't break the deadlock in the return
fixture which ended 0-0. Its inexperienced squad looked short of ideas and star
man Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who has recently recovered from malaria, was a
passenger for much of the tie.
"Arsenal
looked lost. We couldn't get out and they made us nervy. We haven't really laid
a glove on them and we haven't gone down fighting," Keown said on BT Sport
after the match.
To
make matters worse, Villarreal is managed by Unai Emery, who was sacked by
Arsenal and replaced with Mikel Arteta.
The
current boss, who is still learning his trade at the top level, now faces huge
scrutiny with the team currently 9th in the Premier League and heading towards
a season without European football for the first time since 1996.
"It's
a huge job at this football club. His (Arteta's) inexperience has perhaps cost
him," added Keown.
"He's
still manager, but it felt this was the rescue package and his players didn't
turn up. He was outsmarted by the previous manager which is a bit of an
embarrassment."
Fellow
pundit and former Arsenal player Freddie Ljungberg, who briefly took over as
interim boss at the club in 2019, said he hoped Arteta would keep his job but
recognized the pressure mounting on those who need to make the decision.
"He's
a young manager and I hope he will stay," he said on BT Sport. "But,
of course, it's not good enough for Arsenal and it's up to the owners and other
people within the club."
Pressure
on owners
After
the game, Arteta -- who had been a fan favorite when he first took over in
December 2019 -- said he was "devastated" by the result but insisted
he still thought he was the right man for the job.
"I
feel the pressure all the time because I want to do as good as I can for the
team, the support that I have and for the fans," he said after the game.
"I
think everybody's job is under scrutiny."
It's
yet another chapter in a tumultuous season for Arsenal. Its league form has
been woeful at times and there is widespread anger among supporters about the
club's owner, Stan Kroenke.
The
American has been accused of not investing enough money into the squad and,
ultimately, for not caring about the team's performances on the pitch.
His
decision to sign Arsenal up to the hugely controversial Super League also
caused fans to protest outside the stadium.
Spotify
CEO and founder Daniel Ek has publicly announced his desire to buy Arsenal,
insisting he wants to take his favorite club back to glory.
