The Gunners dominated the primary leg of this last-32 Europa League tie, ending the match with round 60 per cent of the possession, although they are going to depart Rome questioning what might need been.
As a substitute Bukayo Saka was the one Arsenal participant who discovered the again of the online, scoring within the 57th minute and simply moments after Benfica had taken the lead via Pizzi’s penalty.
The Gunners continued to push after that, with Martin Odegaard carving out alternatives and proving an actual menace, however ultimately Benfica’s cussed defence held agency to assert a 1-1 draw.
Saka’s away aim means Arsenal are forward within the tie, nevertheless subsequent week’s second leg in Greece guarantees to be nervy affair.
Arsenal are the ‘residence’ workforce however, within the unfamiliar environment of Athens and with away targets nonetheless in play, Benfica will know the tie could be very a lot nonetheless within the stability.
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And that’s the place the frustration will come from for Arsenal as they head again to north London from Rome.
On one other evening they might have killed this tie, significantly if Aubameyang had been within the kind he was in opposition to Leeds solely 4 days in the past.
As a substitute, Mikel Arteta should view this primary leg as a missed alternative – however hopefully one which doesn’t show too pricey. We are going to solely know whether or not it’s or isn’t subsequent week when the ultimate whistle goes in Athens, nevertheless proper now it actually appears like Arsenal haven’t capitalised when the tie was there to be gained.
Odegaard shines on irritating evening for Arsenal
Amid the frustration, there was one shining mild and that was Odegaard. The attacking midfielder was Arsenal’s finest participant on the evening and we noticed shades of the participant who lit up LaLiga with Actual Sociedad final season.
A formidable efficiency from loanee Odegaard
/ AFP by way of Getty Photographs
Just a few of the Norwegian’s passes cut up the Benfica defence in half and it was no shock Arsenal’s aim got here from him. Odegaard slid in Cedric Soares down the left and, when he drilled his cross in, Saka was there to faucet residence on the again publish.
There was quite a lot of hype round Odegaard since he moved to Arsenal on mortgage from Actual Madrid, however there is no such thing as a denying the early indicators look promising. There’s a high quality concerning the 22-year-old’s passing within the ultimate third that Arsenal have been missing this season and his eye for a move is plain.
We shouldn’t overlook Odegaard had performed simply seven League video games this season earlier than transferring to Arsenal on mortgage, so it should take him time to get totally on top of things. But when that is him in second gear, then Gunners followers are proper to be enthusiastic about his potential.
Saka delivers once more to underline talismanic standing
Saka was on course as soon as extra
/ Getty PhotographsWith Aubameyang having an off-night, Arsenal want somebody to step up and shock, shock Saka did the honours. {The teenager} is simply getting higher with each recreation he performs and as soon as once more he delivered in Rome.
Since Arsenal’s upturn in kind after beating Chelsea on Boxing Day, Saka has scored 5 targets. He has gone from being an thrilling and promising winger right into a goalscoring match winner.
Probably the most spectacular factor concerning the ahead too is the speed with which he’s creating. We virtually come to anticipate these form of performances from Saka now as his degree of consistency is so excessive. However we should always take a step again and bear in mind he’s solely 19, which makes his rise all of the extra outstanding.
