ARSENAL RATINGS: Bernd Leno 5 – The German made his 100th appearance for the Gunners and had little to do other than pick the ball out of his net on two occasions. He could do little about either goal, the second in particular owing to poor defending. Reuters
ARSENAL RATINGS: Bernd Leno 5 – The German made his 100th appearance for the Gunners and had little to do other than pick the ball out of his net on two occasions. He could do little about either goal, the second in particular owing to poor defending. Reuters
Hector Bellerin 4 – Ineffective at both ends of the pitch, he was generally too slow on the ball and unable to unleash Saka ahead of him. Substituted. Getty
Hector Bellerin 4 – Ineffective at both ends of the pitch, he was generally too slow on the ball and unable to unleash Saka ahead of him. Substituted. Getty
Kieran Tierney 6 – Scored with a superb finish to bring the Gunners level. He controlled Willian’s pass well and took a touch past his man before unleashing an unstoppable drive. Looked tired for the most part. PA
Kieran Tierney 6 – Scored with a superb finish to bring the Gunners level. He controlled Willian’s pass well and took a touch past his man before unleashing an unstoppable drive. Looked tired for the most part. PA
Gabriel Magalhaes 5 – Gabriel started strongly but seemed to deteriorate as the game wore on. He hadn’t been troubled before Benfica’s equaliser, but he was nervous thereafter. PA
Gabriel Magalhaes 5 – Gabriel started strongly but seemed to deteriorate as the game wore on. He hadn’t been troubled before Benfica’s equaliser, but he was nervous thereafter. PA
David Luiz 5 – Lacked concentration and was often too slow in possession. Arsenal’s defence looked unnecessarily nervy all evening. EPA
David Luiz 5 – Lacked concentration and was often too slow in possession. Arsenal’s defence looked unnecessarily nervy all evening. EPA
Granit Xhaka 5 – Xhaka was neat and tidy throughout but didn’t really impact the game. The midfield area was congested, but he just seems to slow the play too often. Reuters
Granit Xhaka 5 – Xhaka was neat and tidy throughout but didn’t really impact the game. The midfield area was congested, but he just seems to slow the play too often. Reuters
Dani Ceballos 3 – Ceballos started strongly but was guilty of two howlers. First, he gave away the free-kick on the edge of the area that Silva converted. Then, his failed back header allowed Silva to break free and score into an empty net. He was substituted soon after. Reuters
Dani Ceballos 3 – Ceballos started strongly but was guilty of two howlers. First, he gave away the free-kick on the edge of the area that Silva converted. Then, his failed back header allowed Silva to break free and score into an empty net. He was substituted soon after. Reuters
Martin Odegaard 5 – Odegaard looked like he was going to control the game, such was his movement and number of touches in the first half hour. However, he drifted out of the game in the second half. EPA
Martin Odegaard 5 – Odegaard looked like he was going to control the game, such was his movement and number of touches in the first half hour. However, he drifted out of the game in the second half. EPA
Emile Smith-Rowe 5 – Worked hard throughout but he simply didn’t look comfortable on the left and so couldn’t really get into the game. Getty
Emile Smith-Rowe 5 – Worked hard throughout but he simply didn’t look comfortable on the left and so couldn’t really get into the game. Getty
Bukayo Saka 8 – The best player on the field, Saka was a danger from first minute to last. He contributed two assists, both to Aubameyang, and it was his runs from the right and in the centre that caused Benfica so many problems. Getty
Bukayo Saka 8 – The best player on the field, Saka was a danger from first minute to last. He contributed two assists, both to Aubameyang, and it was his runs from the right and in the centre that caused Benfica so many problems. Getty
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 7 – Took his two goals well and could have had more. He saw another goal chalked off, but he showed great composure in the final third under pressure. PA
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang 7 – Took his two goals well and could have had more. He saw another goal chalked off, but he showed great composure in the final third under pressure. PA
SUBSTITUTES: Willian (Smith-Rowe, 63') 7 – The oft-criticised winger made a big difference when he came on. It was from his break that Tierney pulled the Gunners level. Getty
SUBSTITUTES: Willian (Smith-Rowe, 63') 7 – The oft-criticised winger made a big difference when he came on. It was from his break that Tierney pulled the Gunners level. Getty
Thomas Partey (Ceballos, 63') 6 –Didn’t make a huge impact but Arsenal just look better when he’s in the side. He has a calming presence. Reuters
Thomas Partey (Ceballos, 63') 6 –Didn’t make a huge impact but Arsenal just look better when he’s in the side. He has a calming presence. Reuters
Mohamed Elneny (Odegaard, 90') N/A – Not even sure if he had a touch after coming on, but Arsenal held out for the win. Getty
Mohamed Elneny (Odegaard, 90') N/A – Not even sure if he had a touch after coming on, but Arsenal held out for the win. Getty
Callum Chambers (Saka, 90') N/A –Brought on simply to help his side see the game out. Alexandre Lacazette (Bellerin, 78' ) N/A – Didn’t see much of the ball but the Gunners looked more dangerous as a unit when he came on. Reuters
Callum Chambers (Saka, 90') N/A –Brought on simply to help his side see the game out. Alexandre Lacazette (Bellerin, 78' ) N/A – Didn’t see much of the ball but the Gunners looked more dangerous as a unit when he came on. Reuters
BENFICA RATINGS: Helton Leite 5 – Leite had little chance with the first two goals, but there’s an argument to say that he should have come out quicker to try and deny Aubameyang Arsenal’s third. PA
BENFICA RATINGS: Helton Leite 5 – Leite had little chance with the first two goals, but there’s an argument to say that he should have come out quicker to try and deny Aubameyang Arsenal’s third. PA
Nicolas Otamendi 6 – Otamendi was the best of Benfica’s back line, who had a pretty torrid evening at the expense of Saka and Aubameyang. PA
Nicolas Otamendi 6 – Otamendi was the best of Benfica’s back line, who had a pretty torrid evening at the expense of Saka and Aubameyang. PA
Lucas Verissimo 4 – Verissimo had a tough night trying to contain Aubemayang. He lost him far too many times, and crucially when it mattered late on. Reuters
Lucas Verissimo 4 – Verissimo had a tough night trying to contain Aubemayang. He lost him far too many times, and crucially when it mattered late on. Reuters
Jan Vertonghen 5 – The Benfica defence looked nervy at times and Vertonghen was part of the problem, struggling to contain Saka’s movement. He came close at the other end with a header that looped over Arsenal’s goal. Reuters
Jan Vertonghen 5 – The Benfica defence looked nervy at times and Vertonghen was part of the problem, struggling to contain Saka’s movement. He came close at the other end with a header that looped over Arsenal’s goal. Reuters
Alejandro Grimaldo 6 – Benfica fans will be wondering why Grimaldo came off, for they looked weaker when they really needed his creativity at the end. EPA
Alejandro Grimaldo 6 – Benfica fans will be wondering why Grimaldo came off, for they looked weaker when they really needed his creativity at the end. EPA
Diogo Goncalves 7 – Goncalves equalised against the run of play to blow the tie wide open. It was a spectacular free-kick that was destined for the top corner as soon as he hit it, his first goal for the club. Arguably Benfica’s best player, whose decision making was better than his teammates’. AP
Diogo Goncalves 7 – Goncalves equalised against the run of play to blow the tie wide open. It was a spectacular free-kick that was destined for the top corner as soon as he hit it, his first goal for the club. Arguably Benfica’s best player, whose decision making was better than his teammates’. AP
Pizzi 6 – A player guilty of magic moments and who scored in the first leg, he was strangely ineffective in this one, and later replaced. AP
Pizzi 6 – A player guilty of magic moments and who scored in the first leg, he was strangely ineffective in this one, and later replaced. AP
Rafa Silva 7 – Was quiet until he burst into life when he seized on a poor moment from Dani Ceballos to slot into an empty net. Showed good awareness to punish the Gunners. PA
Rafa Silva 7 – Was quiet until he burst into life when he seized on a poor moment from Dani Ceballos to slot into an empty net. Showed good awareness to punish the Gunners. PA
Julian Weigl 6 – Weigl was a threat throughout and he was brought down on the edge of the box for the free-kick that saw Benfica equalise. EPA
Julian Weigl 6 – Weigl was a threat throughout and he was brought down on the edge of the box for the free-kick that saw Benfica equalise. EPA
Adel Tarrabt 5 – Lucky to avoid a yellow card following an early challenge on Gabriel’s shin. He was involved a lot early on, but didn’t cause Arsenal any real problems. AP
Adel Tarrabt 5 – Lucky to avoid a yellow card following an early challenge on Gabriel’s shin. He was involved a lot early on, but didn’t cause Arsenal any real problems. AP
Haris Serferovic 5 – He had a good chance to get a shot at goal early on but he scuffed his effort and didn’t trouble Leno. Was kept pretty quiet after that, and was later replaced. EPA
Haris Serferovic 5 – He had a good chance to get a shot at goal early on but he scuffed his effort and didn’t trouble Leno. Was kept pretty quiet after that, and was later replaced. EPA
Gabriel Nunez (Serferovic, 57') 5 – Serferovic had been poor throughout and Nunez didn’t improve things. He had a poor cameo. Reuters
Gabriel Nunez (Serferovic, 57') 5 – Serferovic had been poor throughout and Nunez didn’t improve things. He had a poor cameo. Reuters
Everton (Pizzi, 58') 5 – In mixed form for Benfica, his presence coincided with Benfica’s second goal, but his decision making wasn’t always the best. Gabriel Appelt Pires (Taraabt, 58) 5 – He was once the subject of a bid from Arsenal, and he could do little to influence the game against the Gunners. AP
Everton (Pizzi, 58') 5 – In mixed form for Benfica, his presence coincided with Benfica’s second goal, but his decision making wasn’t always the best. Gabriel Appelt Pires (Taraabt, 58) 5 – He was once the subject of a bid from Arsenal, and he could do little to influence the game against the Gunners. AP
Nuno Tavares (Grimaldo, 85') N/A –A strange substitution given Grimaldo had played well, and Tavares was guilty of giving Saka too much room to cross for the winner. Luca Waldschmidt (Weigl, 90') N/A – Waldschmidt had little time to get into the game. Getty
Nuno Tavares (Grimaldo, 85') N/A –A strange substitution given Grimaldo had played well, and Tavares was guilty of giving Saka too much room to cross for the winner. Luca Waldschmidt (Weigl, 90') N/A – Waldschmidt had little time to get into the game. Getty

Football

Arsenal v Benfica player ratings: Bukayo Saka 8, Dani Ceballos 3; Diogo Goncalves 7, Lucas Verissimo 4

Gunners qualify for Europa League last 16 with 3-2 victory

Nick Judd

February 26, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang scored twice including a late winner as Arsenal qualified for the last 16 of the Europa League on Thursday with a 3-2 victory over Benfica in the home leg of their relocated game in Greece.

Read More

Man United stroll into Europa League last 16 after Real Sociedad draw

The Gabon striker put Arsenal ahead at the Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus following a 1-1 draw in the first leg.

Diogo Goncalves levelled with a fine curling free-kick and Rafa Silva gave Benfica a 2-1 lead on the night when he took advantage of an error from Dani Ceballos on the hour.

Kieran Tierney rifled in an equaliser and Aubameyang headed in the decisive goal from Bukayo Saka's cross on 87 minutes, earning the Gunners a 4-3 aggregate victory.

Player ratings from the match can be seen in the picture gallery above. To view the next image, click on the arrows or swipe if on a mobile device.

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