Postpublished at 85 mins
Benfica 1-1 Arsenal
Kieran Tierney gets in down the left but the left-back gets his cross all wrong, much to the frustration of Gabriel Martinelli who had been waiting to pounce in the box.
Summary
Saka earns Arsenal draw against Benfica
Portuguese side led through penalty conceded by Smith Rowe
Result: Wolfsberger 1-4 Tottenham - Son, Bale, Moura & Vinicius
Result: Real Sociedad 0-4 Man Utd - Fernandes (2), Rashford & James
Result: Slavia Prague 0-0 Leicester - Foxes won only one of past seven away European games
Postpublished at 85 mins
SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 84 mins
Benfica boss Jorge Jesus is forced to change his mind on a change after Lucas Verissimo picks up an injury problem.
Gilberto was ready to join the action but Chiquinho now gets the nod instead.
Postpublished at 81 mins
Benfica 1-1 Arsenal
Into the final 10 minutes.
Another goal would be very welcome for the Gunners, of course, but 1-1 wouldn't be a bad result heading into their home leg.
Postpublished at 79 mins
Benfica 1-1 Arsenal
Positive from Nicolas Pepe, who links up with Kieran Tierney and attempts to drive in from the left.
A heavy touch takes the ball away from him.
SUBSTITUTIONpublished at 76 mins
Benfica 1-1 Arsenal
That's Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's last chance this evening.
He's replaced by Nicolas Pepe.
Gabriel Martinelli also comes on for Emile Smith Rowe.
Postpublished at 74 mins
Benfica 1-1 Arsenal
It's not happening for Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang this evening.
Gabriel lifts a pass over the Benfica defence and into Aubameyang's path, but he takes one touch too many and allows Lucas Verissimo to recover and tackle.
Another great opportunity.
Postpublished at 72 mins
Benfica 1-1 Arsenal
Emile Smith Rowe clips a ball back from the byline but Benfica are defending in big numbers and clear once more.
get involved Get Involvedpublished at 21:30 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2021
#bbcfootball or text 81111 (UK only)
Gooner: ESR is like a quick little mouse with his scurrying runs. Some more positive passing will definitely make it 2-1. Also good to see the #3 back on!
Big banana: Ceballos can be a frustrating figure at times in possession. I can’t understand why Smith-Rowe is dropped wide when his form in the 10 position has coincided with our brilliant form.
Postpublished at 70 mins
Benfica 1-1 Arsenal
Arsenal knock the ball around at the back with little room for manoeuvre between the tightly guarded Benfica lines.
Mikel Arteta's side are staying patient for now with plenty of minutes left on the clock yet.
Postpublished at 67 mins
Benfica 1-1 Arsenal
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is inches away from beating keeper Helton Leite to an excellent ball over the top by Martin Odegaard.
The pace has slowed down somewhat since Arsenal's leveller.
Postpublished at 21:24 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2021
Benfica 1-1 Arsenal
Only Nicolas Pepe (10) has a direct hand in more Europa League goals for Arsenal since the beginning of last season than Bukayo Saka (9), with this his third goal in the competition for the Gunners (6 assists).
Image source, GettSUBSTITUTIONpublished at 64 mins
Benfica 1-1 Arsenal
Some changes to report.
Kieran Tierney replaces Cedric Soares for Arsenal.
For Benfica, Everton replaces Darwin Nunez and Pizzi comes off for Haris Seferovic.
Postpublished at 62 mins
Benfica 1-1 Arsenal
Benfica skipper Pizzi (seven) has scored more goals than any other player in the Europa League this season.
Since the start of the 2019-20 Europa League, only Bruno Fernandes (10) has scored more goals in the competition than Pizzi (nine).
Impressive.
Image source, Getty ImagesPostpublished at 60 mins
Benfica 1-1 Arsenal
Well, we wanted the game to spring into life and it has certainly done that in the past few minutes!
After all that, it's level on the night - but Arsenal at least have an away goal for their troubles.
Still half an hour to go. Bring it on.
Video Assistant Refereepublished at 21:17 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2021
Benfica 1-1 Arsenal
The goal stands!
Arsenal are level.
Video Assistant Refereepublished at 21:16 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2021
Benfica 1-1 Arsenal
Hang on Arsenal fans, there's a VAR check going down...
GOAL - Benfica 1-1 Arsenalpublished at 21:16 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2021
Bukayo Saka (57 mins)
Immediate response!
Arsenal stretch Benfica and Cedric Soares delivers a great ball into the box which Bukayo Saka converts at close range.
Just what they needed.
GOAL - Benfica 1-0 Arsenalpublished at 21:13 Greenwich Mean Time 18 February 2021
Pizzi (pen, 55 mins)
A little skip and a cool finish by Pizzi into the bottom right corner gives Bernd Leno no hope of saving it.
Advantage Benfica.
PENALTY - Benficapublished at 54 mins
Benfica 0-0 Arsenal
Benfica take a corner and a follow-up cross strikes Emile Smith Rowe on the arm!
Disaster for Arsenal!
Postpublished at 52 mins
Benfica 0-0 Arsenal
Bukayo Saka has just decided he's going to try and settle this himself.
The 19-year-old sneaks into the box, beats a man but drags his shot about a yard wide of the target.
Arsenal are getting closer.