ARSENAL left it late against Benfica but have safely made it through to the next round of the Europa League.
- Final score: Arsenal 3-2 Benfica
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THAT’S ALL FROM PIRAEUS
Arsenal have qualified to the Europa League’s Round of 16 following a dramatic 3-2 win over Benfica at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium.
The Gunners opened the scoring after 21 minutes when Bukayo Saka found Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang with a brilliant through ball before the Gabon international beat Helton Leite with a beautiful finish.
Benfica, though, set the aggregate on fire two minutes before half-time with Diogo Goncalves’ incredible free-kick, which the “visitors” earned after careless foul by Dani Ceballos close to the north Londoners’ box.
Ceballos committed another major error on 61 minutes when he headed the ball back and Rafa Silva picked it up to dribble past Bernd Leno and give his side the lead.
Arsenal managed to respond just six minutes later with a beautiful left-footed shot by Kieran Tierney but still needed another goal to qualify.
The Gunners got there eventually just three minutes before full-time when Saka’s cross found Aubameyang, who headed the ball past Helton.
Arsenal will find out their last-16 opponents tomorrow noon when the draw takes place in Nyon
That’s all from us here in Greece, have a lovely evening!
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ARTETA REACTS
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is very pleased with the result and praised the likes of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Willian and Kieran Tierney.
Arteta said: “I completely trust him [Aubameyang] because we’re producing the chances and you know when Auba has chances he’s going to score goals.
“Today it would have been really harsh with what has happened in the two legs to be out of the competition.
“Willian specifically I think he changed the game he gave us much more composure in moments, produced some creativity, produced the goal for Kieran and we need everybody on board.
“The way I’d describe him [Tierney] which is all determination, all passion for what he does. The way he come back from his injury and how willing he is to help the team. He gives us a big lift”
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AUBAMEYANG REACTS
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is ecstatic after his two goals helped Arsenal advance to the last 16 of the Europa League.
Aubameyang was part of the team that was eliminated by Olympiacos at this stage last season after a huge miss just before full-time at the Emirates.
But the Arsenal superstar is always determined to make up for past mistakes and turn a negative into a positive.
Aubameyang told BT Sport: “I think everyone is happy tonight.
“Definitely I had this in my head but this is what gives me power every day to take the errors from the past and transform it to strength”
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SAK ATTACK
Arsenal star Bukayo Saka is already standing out of the crowd despite his young age of 19 years old.
Saka is officially the most creative player in the Europa League since the start of last season.
The winger has provided eight assists and played a big role in the Gunners’ qualification to the last 16.
After all, Saka created both of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s goals
GREAT SCOT
Arsenal ace Kieran Tierney has made his own bit of history tonight…
Tierney scored the Gunners’ second goal that might have been the most critical as they equalised after Benfica recorded two away goals.
The left-back became the first Scottish footballer to find the net in a European competition in over four decades!
Last Scottish player to score for Arsenal was Willie Young against Goteborg
GREEK TRAGEDY
Tonight’s encounter marked the third time Benfica played at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium.
It also marked the third time the Eagles’ lost at Olympiacos’ ground in Piraeus.
The Greek giants thrashed Benfica with a score of 5-1 in the UEFA Cup back in 2008.
Olympiacos then defeated the Portuguese big hitters with a score of 1-0 in a match that practically sealed qualification to the Champions League’s last 17.
And the rest is now history…
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STATS
Arsenal dominated a mere 53 per cent of possession against a competitive Benfica side.
The Gunners produced a total of 10 shots, five of which were on target, compared to the Eagles’ six, two of which were on target.
Both teams found it rather easy to make it to the opposite box as the north Londoners got there 21 times compared to the Portuguese giants’ 16.
It was an intense match but, funnily enough, only one player got booked, and that was Adel Taarabt
FT: ARSENAL 3-2 BENFICA
Arsenal made it through to the last 16 of the Europa League after winning a dramatic encounter in Greece.
Aubameyang opened the scoring after 21 minutes when he picked up a brilliant through ball by Bukayo Saka and beat Helton Leite with a beautiful finish.
But Benfica wouldn’t be daunted as they equalised just two minutes before half-time with a brilliant free-kick by Diogo Goncalves; the Eagles got the set-piece on a promising position following a careless foul by Dani Ceballos.
The Portuguese giants gained the lead on 61 minutes following another error by Ceballos who headed the ball back where Rafa gained possession, dribbled past Leno and scored.
But Kieran Tierney put the north Londoners back into the tie with a beautiful left-footed shot just six minutes later.
Benfica fought tooth-and-nail to hold on to the result but Saka’s brilliant cross from the right found Aubameyang whose headed beat Helton once more.
Arsenal are through on a 4-3 aggregate!
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PEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP!
AND THAT’S IT IN GREECE!!!!!!!!!
ARSENAL ARE THROUGH TO THE LAST 16!!!!!!
ARSENAL 3-2 BENFICA
90+3 WHAT A CHANCE!
Rafa almost equalises and steals qualification for Benfica!
Tavares whips in a cross from the left and finds Rafa whose header hits the right post.
Wouldn’t have counted anyway as he was offside
ARSENAL 3-2 BENFICA
90+3 Arsenal are holding on well!
Has this goal sent them through?
ARSENAL 3-2 BENFICA
90 Four more minutes of added time.
Arsenal are so close!!!!!
ARSENAL 3-2 BENFICA
90 SUBSTITUTION
Arsenal send on Chambers and Elneny who replace Odegaard and Saka respectively.
Benfica swap Weigl for Waldschmidt.
ARSENAL 3-2 BENFICA
89 Aggregate now stands at 4-3 in favour of Arsenal and that means they go through if nothing changes.
But if Benfica score then they will be the ones going through
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ARSENAL 3-2 BENFICA
87 Aubameyang may have punched Arsenal’s ticket to the last 16!
And it’s Saka again with the assist as his cross from the right flank finds the star striker badly marked and his header beats Helton once more!
GOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLL!
ARSENAL SCORE WITH AUBAMEYANG!!!!!!!!
ARSENAL 2-2 BENFICA
85 SUBSTITUTION
Tavares replaces Grimaldo for the last few minutes of the game.
Grimaldo took his jolly good time making his way out of the pitch…
ARSENAL 2-2 BENFICA
83 As one could expect, Arsenal are trying to press forward whereas Benfica are happy to stay at the back and protect the result.
The Eagles don’t seem keen at all to move forward unless they are on the counter-attack
ARSENAL 2-2 BENFICA
80 Benfica are looking lethal with their runs on the wings; especially dangerous on the counter-attack.
As it stands, the Eagles are going through thanks to two away goals on a 3-3 aggregate.
Arsenal, though, will turn it around with a goal!
ARSENAL 2-2 BENFICA
78 SUBSTITUTION
Lacazette comes on for Bellerin as Arsenal manager Arteta adopts a more attacking approach
ARSENAL 2-2 BENFICA
77 CHANCE
Saka finds his way through the Benfica box from the right and fires a shot that completely misses the target
ARSENAL 2-2 BENFICA
76 CHANCE!
Woah! That was dangerous!
Arsenal lose the ball in midfield and Benfica’s Gabriel picks it up to lead a lethal counter-attack.
The Eagles ace flicks the ball over for Rafa but Leno gets hold of it right in the nick of time
ARSENAL 2-2 BENFICA
75 That is how Tierney may have saved the tie for Arsenal.
An incredible shot by the Gunners left-back, but the north Londoners need another goal fast!
ARSENAL 2-2 BENFICA
74 CHANCE!
Nunez dances through Luiz and Gabriel at the edge of the box and fires a beautiful shot that just misses Leno’s right post!
That was so close…
ARSENAL 2-2 BENFICA
72 CHANCE
Willian tries to find Aubameyang from the right flank but Benfica’s defence clear.
Luiz gets the ball and tries a long-range shot that completely misses the target
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
