Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta praises Willian and two others after Benfica Europa League win

Arsenal v Benfica: Match in pictures

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has reacted to his side’s dramatic 3-2 Europa League win over Benfica. The Gunners went into the game knowing victory as the home side would send them through. And they emerged victorious courtesy of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. 

Arsenal’s night got off to the perfect start when Aubameyang scored in the first half.

However, Benfica then turned the game around – with Diogo Gonclaves and Rafa Silva then striking to give them the lead.

Arsenal were staring down the barrel of a shock Europa League exit when Kieran Tierney struck, with the former Celtic star equalising via a powerful low drive.

And Aubameyang scored his second goal of the game to send them through.

It was a vital victory for Arsenal, who will still dream of winning a trophy this season, and Arteta reacted to the result after the game. 

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He praised Aubameyang by saying: “I completely trust him because we’re producing the chances and you know when Auba has chances he’s going to score goals.

Also hailed were Tierney and Willian.

On Tierney, he said: “The way I’d describe him which is all determination, all passion for what he does.

“The way he come back from his injury and how willing he is to help the team. He gives us a big lift.”

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And, on Willian, he added: “Willian specifically I think he changed the game he gave us much more composure in moments, produced some creativity, produced the goal for Kieran and we need everybody on board.”

Aubameyang claimed ‘everyone was happy’ at Arsenal after the win, with the Gabon international insisting they’re learning from the lessons of the past.

“Everyone is happy tonight,” he said.

“This is what gives me power every day, take errors from the past and transform to strength.

“The team showed a lot of character and we deserved the win.

“It was a hard game. What we showed tonight will be an example for the future.”

Arsenal legend Martin Keown was full of praise for Aubameyang, naming him as one of three ‘characters’ from the match.

“That’s the sort of player that you want to breed. You want characters going forwards,” he said.

“Who are the players you can look at and say, ‘OK, cometh the hour, cometh the man’. We had three of them tonight.

“Aubameyang with the finish, Saka with the providing cross and Tierney started it with that goal, getting us back in the game.

“We’re having to learn quickly on our feet, but we might actually come out of it much stronger for having gone through this tonight.

“In the end, they showed a great deal of character.”

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