Late Aubameyang goal sends Gunners through

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang laid to rest the ghosts of 12 months ago to score a late winner as Arsenal edged out Benfica to advance into the last 16 of the Europa League last night.

The Gunners were just three minutes away from crashing out on away goals – despite both legs being played at neutral venues.

Current coronavirus travel restrictions meant the Gunners had to ‘host’ the second leg of their round-of-32 tie in Athens, where Aubameyang’s late header saw them win 3-2 on the night and 4-3 on aggregate.

Tied at 1-1 following the ‘away’ leg in Rome last week, Arsenal went a goal ahead through captain Aubameyang only for Diogo Goncalves to level with a fine free-kick.

Rafa Silva then raced through on goal and put the Portuguese club in front just after the hour.

Arsenal pulled one back through a Kieran Tierney strike as the Scotland fullback marked his 50th appearance for the club in style and Aubameyang nodded in a dramatic 87th-minute winner to send the Gunners through.

● Manchester United secured safe passage to the last-16 with a goalless draw against Real Sociedad as 17-year-old Shola Shoretire became the youngest ever player to represent the Red Devils in a European match.

This round of 32 tie was all but settled when the Red Devils scored four away goals without reply in Turin last week.

Aged 17 years 23 days, forward Shoretire replaces Norman Whiteside as the youngest player to play for the Old Trafford men in Europe.

● Lacklustre Leicester crashed out of the Europa League after a tame defeat to Slavia Prague.

Lukas Provod and Abdallah Sima struck in the second half to settle the last-32 tie 2-0 on the night and on aggregate.

Slavia deserved to progress as the misfiring Foxes never got going to continue Brendan Rodgers’ Europa League curse.

Rodgers has never reached the last 16 of the competition after four previous failures with Liverpool and Celtic and his latest miss last night.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang celebrates his winner.