Benfica v Arsenal - as it happened

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FT: Benfica 1-1 Arsenal!!! All over in Rome and I think that's a fair score. Benfica took the lead in the 55th minute after a quiet first half through a Pizzi penalty, but Bakayo Saka levelled for the Gunners two minutes later through a VAR awarded goal to give Arteta's men a crucial away goal. In the last 20 minutes, both teams pretty much settled for a draw and it's all to play for in Athens next week.

Rafa Silva's cross from this near side is simple for Leno and that's that!

Another long ball forward goes out of play.

Arsenal go forward, Pepe's cross from the near side can't find a teammate and then another ball in is dealt with by Benfica.

A draw would be very fair here.

Free-kick to the hosts after a handball.

60% possession for the visitors.

Four extra minutes.

Arsenal double sub: Ceballos is replaced by Elneny while Willian is on for Odegaard.

Benfica sub: Chinquinho on for Verissimo.

Arsenal attack, but the move comes to nothing.

Little to report in the last few minutes and I think this one will be 1-1 going into the second leg. Benfica will need a goal in Athens next week.

Seferovic looks to play in Silva, but his pass is too hard.

Benfica sub: Gabriel on for Taarabt.

Arsenal double sub: Pepe on for Auba and Martinelli on for Smith-Rowe.

The Benfica player has picked up an injury as he made the challenge.

Auba gets into the area after a lovely touch to control the pass, he then looks to cut back and Verissimo dispossesses him.

Everton!!! The Benfica man is given the ball inside the area and his shot goes wide of the goal!

Corners: 3-4.

Arsenal attack, Smith-Rowe looks for Auba in the middle, Otamendi cuts out the pass, but then the Gunners' attack continues and Tierney gets the corner.

Benfica having a bit of ball now and just passing amongst themselves for now.

The game is very open and both teams could easily score again.

Odegaard looks to pick out Auba again with another pass, but it's too strong and Leite gets there first.

Benfica double sub: Pizzi and Nunez are replaced by Everton and Seferovic.

Arsenal sub: Tierney on for Cedric.

Auba again!!! Odegaard plays a lovely ball for Auba, but he hits just wide! The flag was up.

Rafa Silva!!! The Benfica man goes forward and forces a good save out of Leno! It's a much better second half.

That's a huge away goal for the Gunners and that was the perfect response.

The goal is given by the VAR!!! Auba passes to Odegaard who then gives it to Cedric and he cuts back for Saka to tap in! Saka was miles onside as he was behind the ball. Difficult to understand how it was disallowed originally.

Saka levels for the Gunners, but offside is given! That was a late flag.

Pizzi to take and he scores!!! He almost passes the ball into the net! The penalty is hit to Leno's left, the German goes the right way, but can't reach it.

Penalty to Benfica!!! Diogo Goncalves' cross hits Smith-Rowe on the arm and his arm was up. I think it hits his chest first, but his arm was above the shoulder so the call will stand.

Corner for the Portuguese club now.

Saka!!!! Lovely play involving Saka and Ceballos, but the former's shot fails to find the target!

Smith-Rowe!! Saka's cross picks out Smith-Rowe and Leite makes a great save from close range. He was miles off though.

Ceballos makes a clear foul on Weigl. Benfica have started the second period brightly.

Pizzi!!! He gets the ball inside the box, but his effort is a tame one which means it's easy for Leno.

Nunez is penalised for a foul on Gabriel.

Back underway here!

Benfica sub: Rafa Silva on for Waldschmidt.

HT: Benfica 0-0 Arsenal! Half-time in Rome in what has been a quiet first half. Arsenal have been the slightly better team, but it has been relatively even and clear cut chances have been at a premium. Auba's miss after being played in by Bellerin is the clearest opportunity there has been by a considerable distance. A draw is definitely fair here. Back for more shortly!

Benfica are penalised from the set piece and it's HT!

45+1: What a chance for Grimaldo!! The Spaniard gets the ball and looks to cut back for teammates in the middle and the ball hits Ceballos and goes for a corner! He was perhaps too unselfish.

One added minute.

Gabriel's header goes wide of the goal. Arsenal with 10 momentarily.

Smith-Rowe is down here with an injury to his leg.

Corner to the Gunners after the ball comes off Otamendi.

Taarabt looks for Nunez, but D Luiz cuts out the pass.

Lovely by Odegaard now, but D Luiz was fractionally offside.

Arsenal win themselves a corner, but nothing comes of it.

Free-kick to Arsenal here and I think there won't be a goal before HT.

Arsenal are caught offside once again. Auba this time.

Nunez!!! Benfica go forward through Pizzi and then Nunez's shot is stopped by Leno. The Uruguayan slipped as he hit it.

Benfica win themselves a corner now.

A mistake by Taarabt sees Smith-Rowe get the ball and he beats Verissimo easily, but his pass is poor.

Saka has a shot now which is straight forward for the goalie.

Saka is caught offside now.

Free-kick to Benfica in their own half after Taarabt is brought down by Ceballos.

Arsenal go forward again, but the flag is up.

Auba!!!! How did you miss that?? Ceballos picks out Bellerin on this near side, he squares for Auba in the middle and the Gabonese inexplicably hits wide of the post!

Soares sends a long ball forward and Leite charges out of his goal to clear the danger.

Free-kick against Nunez for a shirt pull. I think this will be goalless for a while.

Little to report in the last few minutes here. As you were.

Taarabt lays the ball off for Waldschmidt and the shot is blocked.

Free-kick to Benfica at midfield. It's a typical first leg game so far.

Taarabt is penalised now for a foul on Ceballos.

Ceballos' cross is sent by a Benfica player straight to Bellerin who then wins the corner.

Arsenal are having the better of the opening exchanges here.

Free-kick to Arsenal after a foul by Vertonghen.

Arsenal attack down the far side, the ball finds Aubameyang and he's called offside. Not sure about that one.

A cross by Ceballos is caught by Leite.

Arsenal get us going in the black from left to right while Benfica are in red!