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
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- P. Aubameyang(22', 88')
- K. Tierney(68')
- D. Gonçalves(44')
- R. Silva(62')
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Updated 25/02/2021 at 19:49 GMT
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.
25'
Aubameyang at his best that.
This should be an exercise in game management now for Arsenal but one Benfica goal could send this to extra-time and penalties...
It doesn't look likely at the moment as Arsenal go in search of a second.
21'
GOAL! ARSENAL 1 BENFICA 0 (Aubameyang, 21)
Beautiful.
Saka plays a brilliant reverse pass into Aubameyang who dinks the ball over Helton with his first touch.
It's a goal of real quality and perfect timing.
21'
CHANCE!
Best of moment of the match.
Odegaard pings and inch-perfect ball across to Tierney who picks Smith-Rowe out in the box. The midfielder's effort is blocked but that was rapid stuff from Arsenal and what a ball from Odegaard!
19'
Truth be told, when Benfica start knocking it around the edge of the Arsenal box they look the more dangerous side.
Lots of little electric runners that look more than capable of bamboozling this Arsenal defence.
Almost 20 minutes gone.
17'
Saka is some player and looks the most likely player to help Arsenal break the deadlock.
The Gunners are on top but still no chances to show for it but for a long-range Xhaka effort straight at Helton.
13'
Benfica finally string a few passes together but Arsenal keep shape.
The Portuguese side are set up to contain this match and maybe nick a goal on the counter with their pace up top.
And Goncalves almost does just that with a few touches inside the Gunners' box but Tierney blocks.
9'
A good start from Arsenal this - they look in control and are seeing plenty of the ball.
Xhaka sprays a pass out left to Aubameyang who cuts inside and has a go but it's an easy save for Helton.
6'
Another Premier League throwback as Adel Taraabt clatters Aubameyang to give away a foul. He also picks up an early booking.
5'
Benfica's Pizzi is the Europa League's top scorer this season with seven goals and he's pressing that Arsenal backline here, looking to force a mistake.
The Portuguese side are looking lively on the counter.
3'
Ceballos makes an early surging run through the middle as Arsenal take all the possession in the first 90 seconds.
Former Man City man Nicolas Otamendi makes the tackle eventually and passes sideways for Jan Vertonghen. Premier League vintage.
1'
HERE WE GO
18:52
THREE MINUTE WARNING
Remember, we're 1-1 on aggregate, Arsenal have the away goal.
90 minutes to go...
18:50
GOOD OMENS
However...
18:45
GREECE
So technically Arsenal are at home, but realistically they are at the Georgios Karaiskakis Stadium, Greece. That's the home of Olympiakos if anyone was wondering.
Covid-19 travel restrictions have meant that the first (away) leg was played in Rome, and that this one is in Greece.
Does that make sense? I have no idea anymore.
18:37
100 UP FOR LENO
18:30
AUBAMEYANG STARTS
The teamsheet shows just how seriously Arteta is taking this one. A very strong lineup indeed with Aubameyang leading the line.
Thomas Partey is on the bench though, presumably not quite ready for a start on his retur from injury.
18:21
CHAMPIONS LEAGUE POTENTIAL
Of course, a place in the round-of-16 isn't all that's at stake.
The winner of the Europa League qualifies automatically for the Champions League...and with Arsenal's hopes of a domestic top-four finish all but over, this could be their only way in.
So yes, it is a big deal.
18:12
BENFICA TEAM NEWS
18:12
ARSENAL TEAM NEWS