A Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang double sent Arsenal through to the last-16 of the Europa League as they beat Benfica 4-3 on aggregate.
The forward netted two of Arsenal’s three goals in their ‘home’ leg as they took a 3-2 victory on the night.
Aubameyang missed a number of chances in the first leg but more than made up for it with the all-important goals.
It spared the blushes of his teammate Dani Ceballos whose poor defensive error looked like it was going to send the Gunners crashing out.
AFP
After missing several chances during the 1-1 draw in Rome last week, Arsenal captain Aubameyang opened the scoring, getting onto the end of a pass from Bukayo Saka before he lifted the goal over the goalkeeper.
Despite dominating the first half, Arsenal conceded an equaliser just two minutes before the interval as Diogo Goncalves curled home a fine free-kick.
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The same pattern at the start of the second half prompted Benfica head coach Jorge Jesus into a triple substitution.
But it was an error from Ceballos which allowed the Primeira Liga side to take the lead, miscuing a header from a long ball forward and allowing Rafa Silva to nip in and turn the tie on its head.
Arteta reacted by bringing on Willian and Partey and the former provided an assist soon after, rolling the ball into the path of Kieran Tierney who arrowed Arsenal level in the tie – but behind on away goals.
AFP
Aubameyang grabbed the crucial third goal with 87 minutes on the clock, heading in at the back post following a pinpoint cross from Saka.
It was enough to send the Gunners through and prevent the potential embarrassment of crashing out of the competition at the round of 32 stage again.
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