London
Pierre Emerick Aubameyang scored in overtime’s extra time to force the London side through to the Europe League Round of 16 after a dramatic encounter against the greek side Olympiacos.
After the match in Athens had ended 1-0 for Arsenal, the Gunners knew that a draw at home was all it would take to advance against the greeks. It wasn’t as easy as Arsenal would’ve hoped though, with the score 0-0 at the interval despite multiple chances for the home team.
It was in the 55th minute that Papa Abou Cisse scored for the visitors against the right of play. As it stood, the match would be heading towards extra time in London. Frustration began to boil in the stands at the Emirates, as Arsenal wasted chance after chance. The final whistle blew and the encounter was going to extra time.
Arsenal received what they had been longing for, when in the 111th minute, Pierre Emerick Aubameyang scored for the hosts. Arsenal seemed to be going through, but the thought of a single away goal for Olympiacos tilting the tie was surely in the back of their minds.
That tie tilting goal came in the 118th minute. A collective groan could be felt from the Arsenal fans, as the Moroccan Youssef El Arabi headed the ball into the net from a great cross.
Desperation began to seep from the Gunners as the time wound down and the prospect of another all-too-early European exit loomed on the horizon.
However, in the added time of extra time, with the home sides stands emptying out, a poor clearance off a cross and simple bad luck saw the ball to Pierre Emerick Aubameyang mere meters from goal. The Gabonian hero of the night tucked away the ball and Arsenal rejoiced, surviving a testy ro.32 exchange.
Arsenal will face Austrian side LASK in the round of 16, with legs slated for March 12th – March 28th.