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')

Live

Live Updates

ByPete Sharland

Updated 25/02/2021 at 19:49 GMT

63'

GOAL! ARSENAL 1 BENFICA 2 (Rafa, 63)

What a calamity.

Arsenal were finally getting back into this one but they've shot themselves in the foot once again.

Helton lumps a long ball up top and Ceballos is at fault once again as his header back to Leno is intercepted by Rafa Silva who rounds the 'keeper and slots into an empty net.

61'

Some pinball football inside the box as Arsenal again put a few dangerous balls into the dangerzone. Bellerin's cross is the pick of the bunch but is just an inch or two over the head of Aubameyang.

Arsenal growing back into the game now.

56'

Much better from Arsenal who thread about 40 passes together without interruption. They can't find a way through but at least they have the ball...

53'

Benfica looking very dangerous on the edge of the box and Arsenal are giving them a yard or two too much space as far as I'm concerned.

Benfica know that one goal will all but win them the tie and that is reflected in their confidence and Arsenal's nerves.

51'

DISALLOWED GOAL!

It's a carbon copy of his first and Aubameyang has the ball in the net again!

BUT....the flag is up. And he does look perhaps a yard offside. VAR confirm the decision.

Great finish though.

49'

Sure enough, Benfica have made the better start here and are pinging some nice passes around.

They look the more confident side.

47'

In the end, half-time came at the perfect time for Arsenal who looked rattled by that Benfica equaliser.

Remember that if Benfica score again Arsenal would need two more to progress, so they really cannot afford any more mistakes.

46'

AND WE'RE BACK

SAKA ASSISTS

HALF TIME

Arsenal were coasting through this one but a beautiful free-kick has them rattled and we're all square again - 2-2 on aggregate.

Some big half-time team talks coming up.

45'

You have to say, it's a classic Arsenal moment.

They've dominated the half but a silly mistake and they find themselves level just before half time. That goal has killed their momentum.

But what a goal.

42'

GOAL! ARSENAL 1 BENFICA 1 (Goncalves, 42')

What. A. Goal.

Benfica are right back in this with the most brilliant free-kick by Goncalves.

Just superb.

42'

Ceballos gives away a free-kick 25 yards out...dangerous.

42'

SAVE!

Smith-Rowe finds Saka through the middle and his shot is well saved by Helton...

A potential offside I think but Helton didn't know that and it's a brilliant save

39'

Smith-Rowe dinks a lovely ball into Aubameyang who is making some very clever runs in behind but this time he's just caught an inch or two offside...

Just over five minutes of the half to go...

37'

Arsenal do look like a side prioritising this competition as their route into the Champions League and a chance at silverware.

They're doing plenty of running, more so than I've seen them do in the Premier League...

35'

Free-kick to Benfica in a dangerous position and Arsenal just looking a little bit tense.

CHANCE!

Pizzi swings the ball in and Vertonghen leaps highest but his header is over the bar. Imagine that, a former Spurs man.

32'

So far so good for Arsenal then. Benfica have yet to create an opening and the Gunners look composed.

Arteta is on the sidelines shouting, perhaps making sure his side don't sit on this precarious lead.

BACK ON FORM

29'

Odegaard playing some classy passes but he gives the ball away now as he goes for the Hollywood pass. I don't mind that to be honest, would have looked great had it come off and the vision was there.

27'

So, Arsenal 2-1 up on aggregate and heading through to the round-of-16 as things stand.

Can Benfica respond? Arsenal well on top at the moment with Tierney their bright spark in defence letting little get past him.

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