Arteta’s not doing cartwheels after late escape
Arsenal 3 Aubameyang 21, 87, Tierney 67 Benfica 2 Goncalves 43, Silva 61
ARSENAL WIN 4-3 ON AGG
IF Arsenal and Mikel Arteta are to learn one lesson from last night’s victory over Benfica, it must be that they cannot play like this again if they are serious about winning the Europa League this season.
Arteta admitted Arsenal gifted Benfica two of three goals over the course of this last-32 tie, with the penalty in Rome last week and then Dani Ceballos’s poor defensive header allowing Rafa Silva to score last night.
“When you do that against any opponent, and an opponent with the quality of Benfica, you’re going to be in trouble,” said Arteta.
“That’s why we were in trouble. We gave away a penalty in a situation that we knew was going to happen, and then today we gave away a goal after our own corner.”
Arsenal managed to fight back, largely thanks to the heroics of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who struck twice from two brilliant Bukayo Saka assists.
The pair came to the Gunners’ rescue, but they will know as the opponents get tougher in the Europa League they might be punished next time.
Arsenal have already played one get-out-of-jail-free card and now from the last 16 onwards they must be more ruthless.
It has been a complaint of Arteta’s all season and it nearly undermined his side here.
Arsenal should have really killed this game in Rome last week, or even during the first half last night.
They were by far the better side against a Benfica team who lacked any real threat going forward, but somehow the Gunners left themselves in the situation of needing two goals in 29 minutes to save the tie.
Arsenal pulled off that feat thanks to Aubameyang and Saka’s heroics, but as the Europa League heats up they will know they cannot afford to leave it so late again.