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  • Writer's pictureAdam Perry

Time for Revenge

A late Aubameyang header sent Arsenal through to the last 16 of the Europa League on Thursday night as the Gunners beat Benfica 4-3 on aggregate.


Arsenal entered the second leg with the score tied at 1-1, having the advantage through Bukayo Saka’s away goal. Arteta made four changes from the team that faced Manchester City, bringing in Kieran Tierney for Cédric.


Pierre Emerick Aubameyang opened the scoring in the 20th minute with Bukayo Saka drifting in off the right wing and sliding through the Arsenal captain into the penalty area. Aubameyang confidently scored with his trademark chip over the keeper into the far corner, making it 2-1 to Arsenal on aggregate.


Aubameyang 1-0 (2-1 Arsenal on aggregate)


Benfica equalised the game and the tie on the stroke of half time following Dani Ceballos giving away a free kick on the edge of the area. Goncalves stepped up, placing the ball into the top left corner from 25 years with a superb strike.


On the hour mark, with the tie in the balance, Benfica sought to launch a counter attack off the back of an Arsenal corner. Seemingly unaware of Rafa behind him, Ceballos looked to head a long ball from the keeper back to Leno, instead finding the Benfica forward. Leno rushed out to meet him but was easily rounded, leaving an open goal for the Benfica player to walk the ball in, putting Benfica up 3-2 on aggregate with 2 away goals – meaning Arsenal needed to score twice without reply.


7 minutes later Arsenal equalised the game. Willian got to the byline, cutting the ball back to Tierney just inside the box. The Scotsman dropped his shoulder and shifted the ball onto his left foot before firing it into the far corner, screaming at his teammates as he sensed Arsenal’s momentum growing. Regardless of his play, Tierney’s energy and leadership is always a bonus to the team and it shone through in this moment.


Tierney 2-2 (3-3 on aggregate with Benfica winning on away goals)


3 minutes before time was up Arsenal created a golden chance to win the tie. Xhaka picked up the ball in the Benfica third, playing it square to Ødegaard who turned to find Saka out wide. The youngster took on his man, cutting back onto his left foot and delivering a teasing ball to the back post. Aubameyang got the run on his man, meeting Saka’s cross at the back post, heading it in beyond the helpless goalkeeper and sending Arsenal through to the last 16.


Aubameyang 2-1 (3-2 on aggregate)


In typical fashion, Arsenal made hard work of the tie, gifting Benfica their goals needlessly and squandering a number of good opportunities, particularly in the first leg. The Europa League offers a chance for Arsenal to salvage their season so they will have to up their game and be more ruthless as the rounds progress.


Arsenal struggled to a 1-0 defeat against Manchester City last Sunday with a Raheem Sterling header the difference between the sides.


Manchester City came into the fixture on a 17 game winning run and have been the best team in the country this season, and this game showed why.


City threated early on with Dias playing a long diagonal ball out to Riyard Mahrez on the wing. The tricky winger took on Tierney, who looked slow on his first start since his leg injury, cutting onto his left foot and curling the ball towards the back post like his idol Bukayo Saka. Raheem Sterling found himself unchallenged in between Holding and Bellerín, placing his header into the top left corner.


Pep Guardiola’s men continued to pressure Arsenal through the opening half an hour, completely overrunning the Gunners, although they were unable to turn any of their chances into a goal.


Arsenal did come back into the game for 15 minutes at the end of the first half creating a couple of half chances, but never really looked like scoring.


It was a game where both teams looked tired and the inevitability of the final result also seemed to play a part. Neither team pushed especially hard in the second half despite the score being in the balance with both teams having one eye on their midweek European fixtures.


As with previous meetings, it was clear to the see the gulf in class between the two teams and once again it highlighted the amount of work Mikel Arteta still has to do before Arsenal can even consider challenging at the top again.


On Friday at noon, Arsenal were drawn against Olympiacos for the round of 16. It is a repeat of last year’s round of 32 tie in which Olympiacos knocked Arsenal out in the 119th minute on away goals with Aubameyang spurning a fantastic chance to put Arsenal through at the death.


Olympiacos overcame PSV Eindhoven in the last round winning 5-4 on aggregate. The Greek side will represent a tough test for Arsenal who will have to step their game up to progress having been taken all the way by Benfica.


Arsenal face Leicester City at 12:00pm on Sunday at the King Power Stadium. The Foxes beat Aston Villa and Liverpool in their last two Premier League games but were knocked out by Slavia Prague in the Europa League on Thursday night. They, like Arsenal, are an inconsistent team which makes it difficult to predict exactly how this one will go. Both teams will likely be a bit leggy due to their midweek games so it could be a lethargic affair.


Prediction: Leicester City 1 – 1 Arsenal


Adam Perry - 26/02/2021


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