ARSENE RUSSIAN FOR LATE SAVIOUR
CSKA MOSCOW ...... 2 ARSENAL ............... 2
ARSENE WENGER survived a torturous night in Moscow as Arsenal avoided becoming the latest victims in a week of incredible European comebacks.
The Gunners looked to be stumbling out of the Europa League quarter-finals with CSKA needing just one more goal after grabbing two inside 50 minutes.
But Danny Welbeck’s third goal in two games eased nerves before Aaron Ramsey’s injury-time finish as Arsenal entered today’s semis Arsenal won 6-3 on agg draw along with Atletico Madrid, Red Bull Salzburg and Marseille.
Skipper Laurent Koscielny said: “I am happy because we came back but our performance was not enough for the stage of the competition. We need more confidence in our game.”
Wenger is hanging on to the Europa as his salvation but on last night’s evidence Arsenal may struggle to nail down a passport back into the Champions League.
Another European miracle loomed six minutes before halftime when Petr Cech parried Kirill Nababkin’s header for Fedor Chalov to bundle home.
Ramsey then lost the ball, Aleksandr Golovin hit a 25-yard shot and Cech spilled as Nababkin pounced for CSKA’s second.
Arsenal looked dead on their feet and were hanging on until Welbeck swapped passes with Mohamed Elneny on the edge of the box before smashing into the roof of the net.
Elneny then set up Ramsey as Arsenal’s unbeaten streak was extended to a seventh game. CSKA Moscow 2, Arsenal 2 (agg: 3-6); Marseille 5, RB Leipzig 2 (agg: 5-3); Red Bull Salzburg 4, Lazio 1 (agg: 6-5); Sporting 1, Atletico Madrid 0 (agg: 1-2). Bradford 0, Shrewsbury 0.
Europa League quarter-final 2nd leg – Sky Bet League One – Sky Bet League One –
Aston Villa v Leeds (7.45).