Aubameyang was the hero for Arsenal
(Picture: AFP via Getty Images)A late Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang goal sealed a dramatic comeback for Arsenal as they beat Benfica 3-2 on the night to win their Europa League round-of-32 tie 4-3 on aggregate.
Aubameyang had given Arsenal a first-half lead in Athens after meeting Bukayo Saka’s disguised pass with a deft dinked finish beyond Helton Leite, but a stunning Diogo Goncalves free-kick on the stroke of half-time and a Rafa Silva strike that followed a woeful Dani Ceballos error looked to be sending Benfica through.
However, Kieran Tierney rifled in to make it 2-2 (3-3 on aggregate), leaving Arsenal heading out on away goals until Aubameyang - whom Sky Sports pundit Jamie Redknapp recently described as being “past his best” and having lost his “superpowers” - headed in a vital third for the Gunners three minutes from time to send them into the last-16, and quite possibly save their season in the process.
Arsenal are out of both domestic cup competitions and a lacklustre Premier League campaign that continued with defeat by dominant leaders Manchester City on Sunday has left them sitting 11th and a full 11 points adrift of the top four with only 13 matches left to play in 2020/21.
That has only increased the importance of winning the Europa League, which surely now offers their only potential route back into the Champions League - and possibly Europe altogether - next season.
Arsenal will not have to wait long to discover their next opponents, with the draw for the last-16 taking place in Nyon, Switzerland, at 12pm GMT on Friday afternoon.
