ARSENAL VS BENFICA A very good evening to you all and welcome to our live-text coverage of Arsenal vs Benfica! It's second-leg time. These two couldn't be separated in the first as Saka rescued a 1-1 draw for Arsenal and scored that crucial away goal to take to...Greece. A goalless draw will send the Gunners through, but Benfica are no pushovers. The stakes - a place in the round-of-16... Plenty to play for and 90 minutes to play it in...so stay with us for all the build-up, hype and highlights ahead of kick-off at 5.55pm.

Europa League / 1/16 Final

Stadio Karaiskaki / 25.02.2021

Arsenal

Completed

Aggregate score 4-3

Benfica

P. Aubameyang(22', 88')
K. Tierney(68')

D. Gonçalves(44')
R. Silva(62')

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Live Updates

ByPete Sharland

Updated 25/02/2021 at 19:49 GMT

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Highlights

MAN OF THE MATCH

FULL TIME

Aubameyang with the goals but Saka the hero really with two brilliant assists.

Arsenal are through to the Round of 16 by the skin of their teeth and no thanks to Dani Ceballos...

The Gunners keep their season alive and crucially their hopes of landing a spot in next season's Champions League.

90+4'

My word, Silva hits the post and it's offside anyway but my gosh what drama.

90+3'

Long throw from Benfica...it's chaos inside the box and some very dodgy defending. 90 seconds to hold on.

90+2'

If Arsenal go through now they've really got out of jail because they've played with fire tonight with some very sloppy play.

Two minutes to go...

90'

Now, is there time for another twist?

87'

GOAL! ARSENAL 3 BENFICA 2 (Aubameyang 87)

They've done it!

Arsenal have turned it around! Saka plays a brilliant ball into the back post and puts it on a plate for the captain to head in from three yards.

Arsenal are going through...surely!? VAR are having a look...

IT STANDS!

87'

Balls in, headers out. That's pretty much the run of things right now. Arsenal have barely a man at the back though and look so fragile on the counter.

Straight up the other end Gabriel has an effort blocked by Tierney and if he isn't thoroughly winded by that I'll be amazed.

85'

Arsenal waiting on that moment of magic. Benfica with plenty of men behind the ball.

81'

Arsenal were knocked out by Olympiakos last year despite winning on this ground...

80'

This game is end-to-end now, and either side could really grab a goal. Defending has disappeared, chaos reigns.

Grimaldo the latest to have a go but his effort is blocked.

But is it enough?

78'

Lacazette is on for Bellerin...attacking change.

78'

Up the other end, Saka blasts an effort high and wide.

Chaos.

77'

Arsenal make another complete mess of it at the back but this time Benfica cannot take advantage.

The Portuguese side are two on one but Gabriel's ball into the middle is too close to Leno.

74'

CHANCE!

Just like that, Benfica almost have a third as substitute Gabriel wiggles his way into space and rifles an effort just wide.

73'

Luiz goes for the glorious against his former club but hammers the effort wide.

This has turned into a really good game.

71'

Arsenal are tormenting Benfica now who have 20 minutes to hold on.

I must say, the Gunners look the more likely right now despite Benfica's two away goals.

67'

GOAL! ARSENAL 2 BENFICA 2 (Tierney, 67)

Arsenal are back in it!

They've been all over Benfica since the restart and it's Tierney who rifles a brilliant effort into the corner from just inside the box.

Mad game. Benfica are still going through as it stands but Arsenal just need one more now!

65'

So, is that tie over? Arsenal now need two more goals to go through.

Ceballos gave away the needless free-kick in the first half and has completely messed up for the second too. There's a lack of communication somewhere, and it's cost Arsenal dearly.

The midfielder is off now, his nightmare is over.

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