What appeared to be a premature ending to Arsenal’s Europa League dreams, turned into an out-of-body experience on Thursday. With the the clock ticking, and chances beginning to fade, Bukayo Saka and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang came through with a brilliant pass and a pinpoint header to send the Gunners through to the Round of 16.
Mikel Aretat’s squad played their hearts out for the entire 90 minutes. To a man, the effort was suburb and the result was more than deserved.
After Dani Ceballos’s poor choice to head the ball back to Bernd Leno, resulting in an easy Benfica goal, our chances looked slime. At that point the Gunners were down 3-2 on aggragate, and Benfica had 2 away goals versus Arsenal’s one.
Then at six minutes later, Kieran Tierney scored. So, now we needed on more, and in the 87th minute, Saka finds Auba on the back post, and BOOM, it’s over!
This was truly a team win! Every man on the pitch contributed to the victory. Tierney was brilliant, Auba was the old Auba, Odegaard and Smith Rowe’s work rates were first class, plus Bellerin had one of his best games of the season. Gabriel and Luiz were defensively tight and aggressive, and of course, having Partey back on the pitch was a real bonus. In fact, once Partey returned to the field, the Gunners stepped it up one more notch. Xhaka and Ceballos sparked a good midfield performance as well. To a man, whether starter or sub, this was a job well done, and a well deserved win.
I’m sorry for having any doubts the team would fight back and win this match. At some point, I need to shake that old attitude. Even during defeats or draws this season, I can’t say I have seen this team ever give up, and that’s a huge step forward for the Arsenal Football Club.
Now, it’s back to the Premier League at Leicester City on Sunday, and then a return trip to Athens to play Olympiakos on Friday. The Gunners will have a chance to face former teammate Sokratis as Arsenal looks to seek revenge for last year’s Europa League elimination by the Athens club.
Way to go Arsenal!
Cheers.
Gunner1 1953
Mikel Arteta said on Friday Bukayo Saka, Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber are all in contention to be in the squad for Saturday’s match.
According to Graeme Bailey of TEAMtalk, Arsenal has intensified their interest in Athletic Bilbao star Nico Williams as a top summer priority. 
Fabrizio Romano is reporting Calum McFarlane will be the Chelsea interim manager until the end of this season.
Arsenal Women have confirmed Manu Zinsberger will leave the club at the end of this season. The Austrian goalkeeper has totaled 51 cleans sheets in 143 appearances for the Gunners.
Stat of the Day: David Rays has made 53 saves and had 15 cleans sheets in 33 appearances this season for Arsenal.
American movie star Anne Hathaway on the Gunners title chances, “They better. I believe in Arsenal.”
Gabriel Magalhaes, “We need to be strong on Sunday, We are at this club to play these kind of games.”
Ten Premier League managers have been sacked this season, including three at Nottingham Forest, and two each at Chelsea and Tottenham Hotspur.
