Football: Arsenal top Europa League group, Man United face play-offs

LONDON – Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag was not discouraged after his team failed to pip Real Sociedad to the top of Europa League Group E despite a 1-0 win in San Sebastian, while Arsenal secured their place in the last 16 on Thursday.

The Red Devils now face a tricky play-off tie in February against one of the sides dropping from the Champions League, with Barcelona and Juventus potential opponents.

Alejandro Garnacho scored the only goal of the night at the Reale Arena after just 17 minutes to surpass George Best as United’s youngest-ever non-English scorer in Europe at 18.

But United were left to rue their defeat by the Spaniards at Old Trafford, as they missed out on topping the group on goal difference. “You don’t always get what you deserve – that’s football,” said ten Hag.

“We win today but of course we are disappointed we didn’t score two goals because that is what we needed. Antony was not available, Anthony Martial was not available, Jadon Sancho was not available, so it’s thin.

“We didn’t succeed but after the winter, we are still there to win the Europa League... We have to focus on that next round and that is what we will do.”

Arsenal did not make the same mistake, as a 1-0 win over FC Zurich was enough to hold off PSV Eindhoven to win Group A.

But Mikel Arteta’s men were made to work for the three points after Kieran Tierney’s early strike put them in front.

The Gunners boss was forced to turn to his bench in the second half, with Bukayo Saka and Thomas Partey risked despite a trip to Chelsea on Sunday for the Premier League leaders.

“I expected it to be a tough match. I’ve watched them in the last few games,” said Arteta.

“You’ve seen it and it was really difficult to get any real momentum with the way that the game developed. We have to adapt to that. We had some big chances that we didn’t put away and that made the game more difficult in the last 15 or 20 minutes. We didn’t control certain situations and we had to dig in, which we did. We found a way to win and we’re top of the group.”

Elsewhere, Roma won their showdown with Ludogorets 3-1 to progress to the play-off round, thanks to a second-half fightback in the Italian capital.

The inaugural Europa Conference League winners were heading back to that competition when the Bulgarians led 1-0 at half-time.

But two Lorenzo Pellegrini penalties and a late goal from Nicolo Zaniolo took Jose Mourinho’s men through. AFP