Bruno Fernandes and Edinson Cavani scored twice each as Manchester United took a giant step towards the Europa League final with a 6-2 drubbing of AS Roma in their semi-final first leg at Old Trafford on Thursday.

United’s run of four semi-final losses under manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should be ended after next week’s second leg in the Italian capital after Fernandes and Cavani gave a display of class, providing two assists each to go with their goals. Paul Pogba and Mason Greenwood were the other scorers.

Ole delighted

Solskjaer said he would do everything in his power to try and convince Cavani to stay at the club for another season.

“I’m delighted with him,” Solskjaer said.

“You can see the difference in him when he’s worked on his fitness. He’s making up for lost time.

“He’s more than just a goal poacher and good goalscorer. He’s played for so long that he has that calmness and composure about him. ”

Saka ‘magic’

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta hailed Bukayo Saka’s “moment of magic” in Thursday’s 2-1 first-leg defeat by Villarreal, but said his team must not keep relying on the teenage winger to produce game-changing moments.

Arsenal found themselves against the ropes when they trailed 2-0 following goals by Manu Trigueros and Raul Albiol before having Dani Ceballos sent off.

But Saka won a penalty that was converted by Nicolas Pepe to give the north London club a lifeline heading into the second leg at the Emirates Stadium next week.

“We needed a moment of magic and he (Saka) produced it again,” Arteta told BT Sport.

Arteta said Pepe’s penalty could prove to be a pivotal moment in the tie.

“If we do the right things, we can beat them,” he said. “I’m disappointed that we lost the game.”