Aubameyang and Saka seal remarkable comeback for Arsenal in Greece
Arsenal has progressed to the Round of 16 in the Europa League after a nail-biting 3-2 win over Benfica.
A goal from Pierre Emerick Aubameyang on either side of a Kieran Tierney strike was enough after it looked like Arsenal were crashing out of the competition after Rafa put Benfica ahead in the tie in the second half.
Mikel Arteta made just the one change from the first leg tie, with Kieran Tierney replacing Cedric while Thomas Partey made his return on the bench. It was perhaps Arsenal’s biggest game of the season and the match started a little tentatively from both sides. It took until the 20-minute mark before the game’s first real chance at goal and it was taken beautifully.
https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1365003917495578624Aubameyang and Saka combine
A superb ball from Bukayo Saka sliced through Benfica’s defense and took out five players on its way to Pierre Emerick Aubameyang who calmly clipped over an onrushing Helton Leite and into the net to give the Gunners the lead. Bernd Leno was barely tested in the first 30 minutes as Arsenal took control of the game but Benfica was not without their moments. With the clock ticking down to halftime, Dani Ceballos fouled Julian Weigl just outside the box.
Diogo Goncalves stepped up and curled an unstoppable shot into the top corner out of the reach of Leno. It was Benfica’s first shot on goal for the half as the tie suddenly got real interesting with everything to play for in the second half.
The second half was very cagey from both sides as there was plenty riding on the result. With just 15 minutes gone, the tie changed dramatically when Dani Ceballos tried to head the ball back to Leno only for Rafa to sneak in, drive into the box, got around Leno, and slotted home to give his side the lead on away goals.
Arsenal needed a miracle
Arsenal now needed two goals in 30 minutes to save their season and five minutes later they got one back. Kieran Tierney rounded a Benfica defender, shift the ball onto his left foot, and rifled home his shot across goal to give Arsenal hope.
KT!
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) February 25, 2021
COME ON!
🔴 2-2 ⚫ (67)
🏆 #UEL pic.twitter.com/1q8ssMG5FD
The tie was finely balanced now, at 2-2 but Benfica was ahead on away goals and it would have been the most Arsenal thing to go out on away goals, despite playing two games at neutral venues. Mikel Arteta brought on Alexandre Lacazette to add some more firepower as they chased for a winner.
Just as it looked like Arsenal’s Europa League run was coming to an end, their teenage sensation Bukayo Saka produced a delicious ball to find Aubameyang at the back post, and the skipper headed home to give Arsenal the lead with just three minutes left in normal time.
https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1365024243176656896
Arsenal managed to see out the remaining minutes to seal their progression into the next stage of the competition after some truly tense moments that we have all come to expect from Arsenal over the years.
