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MANCHESTER. — Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said he was “very pleased with the response,” of his men as Manchester United crushed Roma 6-1 on Thursday night.

The Red Devils are now favourites to reach the Europa League final.

“Second half we were very good,” said Solskjaer, after his men stormed from a 1-2 first half deficit.

The combination play between Paul Pogba, Bruno Fernandes and Edinson Cavani consistently cut the Roma defence.

Fernandes and Cavani scored twice, Pogba and Mason Greenwood completed the rout.

“We know we’ve got creative players, players who can create big chances, score goals, it’s about getting them in the positions,” said Solskjaer.

“Marcus (Rashford), Bruno, Paul, Edinson are all capable. The difference today is we took most of our chances.”

In contrast to the vast majority of games this season, United came flying out the blocks and led after just nine minutes.

Sitting seventh in the Italian Serie A, this competition represented Roma’s last realistic chance to qualify for the Champions League next season.

Pogba was penalised for handball as he slid in to try and block Rick Karsdorp’s cross and Pellegrini confidently beat David de Gea from the spot.

Edin Dzeko was a persistent thorn in United’s side and he tapped home Pellegrini’s low cross on 34 minutes.

“We had a good first half but we didn’t exist in the second,” Roma coach Paulo Fonseca told Sky Sport.

“It’s difficult to explain how the same team that did so well in the first half had that kind of second half.”

Unai Emery won his big reunion with Arsenal but 2-1 might prove a small reward for Villarreal.

Manu Trigueros and Raul Albiol gave Villarreal a dream start at La Ceramica and the tie looked to be slipping away from Arsenal when Dani Ceballos was shown a second yellow card early in the second half.

But 10-man Arsenal rallied and grabbed an away goal when Nicolas Pepe converted a penalty in the 73rd minute, before Villarreal’s Etienne Capoue also saw red with 10 minutes left to play.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang might even have snatched a late equaliser for the visitors but Mikel Arteta will be delighted his team are not just in the contest but in a healthy position, too.

“It changes completely the tie. It makes a huge difference,” said Arteta. “We know we are there, we have to be better and if we are we will have the chance to be in the final.” — AFP.