Aubameyang to the rescue as Arsenal narrowly avoid Europa League exit Arsenal survived a nervous scare to beat Benfica 3-2, enough for them to reach the Europa League Round of 16 with a 4-3 aggregate win. Arsenal went into the game with a slight advantage after getting an away goal in the 1-1 draw in the first leg. A goalless draw would have been enough to see them through, but even so, they were quickly on the hunt for a first goal. The breakthrough came in the 21st minute, when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang latched onto a clever pass from Bukayo Saka before expertly dinking the ball over the keeper. There was a VAR check to see if Aubameyang was onside, but the goal was allowed to stand. Saka Aubameyang Beautiful through ball, beautiful finish… Arsenal lead against Benfica! pic.twitter.com/nAPO630ed8 — Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 25, 2021 Saka was on the receiving end of a similar scenario towards the end of the half, when Martin Odegaard slid him through. However, Saka could not hit the target – and was offside anyway. Moments later, Benfica put themselves back on level terms – and in style. Dani Ceballos gave away a free kick on the edge of the box, and Diogo Goncalves sent it flying in. What a free-kick from Diogo Goncalves! Bernd Leno had absolutely no chance and Arsenal's tie with Benfica is wide open once again! pic.twitter.com/LcjhwE5y2L — Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 25, 2021 It left it all to play for in the second half. And Arsenal made it harder for themselves when Ceballos made another mistake. Benfica keeper Helton Leite sent a long goal kick forwards, and Ceballos tried to head it backwards. In doing so, though, he inadvertently played the ball to Benfica striker Rafa Silva, who was left one on one with Bernd Leno and calmly finished to make it 2-1. That meant Arsenal needed to score two goals, or else they would be eliminated. Even though they were technically not playing at home, the away goals rule was still in place. Tierney and Aubameyang salvage tie The Gunners responded quickly, equalising on the night just six minutes after going behind. Kieran Tierney fired in a left-footed shot from inside the box. With 20 minutes to go, Arsenal still needed one more goal to go through. They had to stay alert at the other end as well, though, with Darwin Nunez sending a strike just wide. Stoppage time was approaching, and it seemed Arsenal were on the verge of elimination. But then, Saka and Aubameyang combined again to rescue the tie. Saka sent in an inswinging cross for the Arsenal captain, who headed home at the far-post to make it 3-2 – and 4-3 to Arsenal on aggregate. There was another nervous moment, though, when Benfica hit the post in stoppage time. Arsenal could breathe a sigh of relief, though, and have booked their place in the Last 16. The post Aubameyang to the rescue as Arsenal narrowly avoid Europa League exit appeared first on teamtalk.com.

Arsenal survived a nervous scare to beat Benfica 3-2, enough for them to reach the Europa League Round of 16 with a 4-3 aggregate win.

Arsenal went into the game with a slight advantage after getting an away goal in the 1-1 draw in the first leg.

A goalless draw would have been enough to see them through, but even so, they were quickly on the hunt for a first goal.

The breakthrough came in the 21st minute, when Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang latched onto a clever pass from Bukayo Saka before expertly dinking the ball over the keeper.

There was a VAR check to see if Aubameyang was onside, but the goal was allowed to stand.

Saka Aubameyang

Beautiful through ball, beautiful finish…

Arsenal lead against Benfica! pic.twitter.com/nAPO630ed8

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 25, 2021

Saka was on the receiving end of a similar scenario towards the end of the half, when Martin Odegaard slid him through. However, Saka could not hit the target – and was offside anyway.

Moments later, Benfica put themselves back on level terms – and in style. Dani Ceballos gave away a free kick on the edge of the box, and Diogo Goncalves sent it flying in.

What a free-kick from Diogo Goncalves!

Bernd Leno had absolutely no chance and Arsenal's tie with Benfica is wide open once again! pic.twitter.com/LcjhwE5y2L

— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) February 25, 2021

It left it all to play for in the second half. And Arsenal made it harder for themselves when Ceballos made another mistake.

Benfica keeper Helton Leite sent a long goal kick forwards, and Ceballos tried to head it backwards. In doing so, though, he inadvertently played the ball to Benfica striker Rafa Silva, who was left one on one with Bernd Leno and calmly finished to make it 2-1.

That meant Arsenal needed to score two goals, or else they would be eliminated. Even though they were technically not playing at home, the away goals rule was still in place.

Tierney and Aubameyang salvage tie

The Gunners responded quickly, equalising on the night just six minutes after going behind. Kieran Tierney fired in a left-footed shot from inside the box.

With 20 minutes to go, Arsenal still needed one more goal to go through. They had to stay alert at the other end as well, though, with Darwin Nunez sending a strike just wide.

Stoppage time was approaching, and it seemed Arsenal were on the verge of elimination. But then, Saka and Aubameyang combined again to rescue the tie.

Saka sent in an inswinging cross for the Arsenal captain, who headed home at the far-post to make it 3-2 – and 4-3 to Arsenal on aggregate.

There was another nervous moment, though, when Benfica hit the post in stoppage time. Arsenal could breathe a sigh of relief, though, and have booked their place in the Last 16.

The post Aubameyang to the rescue as Arsenal narrowly avoid Europa League exit appeared first on teamtalk.com.

Samuel Bannister