Europa League: Arsenal Survive Scare In Moscow To Book Place In Semi-Finals (Photos & Video)

Alan Duffy

12th, April 2018

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Arsenal survived a scare in Moscow on Thursday night to book their pace in the Europa League semi-finals.

Going into the game already 4-1 up from the first leg, the Gunners were expected to cruise through to the last four.

However, in a week of dramatic comebacks, the Premier League side suffered a first-half wobble before securing a 2-2 draw.

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Arsenal struggled from the off, and went a goal down on the night just before the break, with Fedor Chalov scoring for the hosts from close-range after a Cech save.

CSKA Moscow continued to look the better side after the break and made the tie 2-3 on aggregate on 50 minutes, with Kirill Nababkin firing home after Petr Cech’s weak parry from a long-range effort.

Arsene Wenger’s men were now teetering badly, with the now-shirtless home fans sensing a shock on the cards.

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However, the Gunners rode the storm and on 75 minutes they make a breakthrough with a moment of genuine quality – Danny Welbeck tucking home a prim finish after playing a slick one-two with the impressive Mohamed Elneny.

Blushes were duly spared in injury time, when Elneny played in Aaron Ramsey to lift the ball over Igor Akinfeev and into the back of the CSKA net to score – the in-form Welshman’s seventh goal in his last eight appearances.

Thanks to the late kick-off, Ramsey’s goal was actually scored at midnight local time.

Anyway, the 2-2 result sees the north Londoners progress to the semi-finals courtesy of a 6-3 aggregate scoreline, along with Atletico Madrid, Marseille and Salzburg.

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Despite a drab couple of months, it still looks like a rather dismal season could end on a rather bright note for Arsene Wenger and his side.

As improbable as it may sounds, a mere three matches now stand between them and qualifying for the Champions League next season.