Benfica vs Arsenal preview: How to watch, predicted lineups, score prediction & injury updates

Arsenal travel to Rome’s Stadio Olimpico to face Benfica in the first – and ‘away’ – leg of their Europa League round of 32 tie. Here is the match preview.

Does it feel like this is important? It should do. Because it is. Last season Arsenal were dumped out of the competition at this stage by Olympiacos, with the season being salvaged by a magnificent FA Cup run and title success.

There is no reserve parachute on this occasion, as the two legs against Benfica are the most important matches left in this season. In the Premier League, the club’s position is not sewn up as they sit eight points adrift of Chelsea in fourth place, but a number of factors need to fall in place to (re?)launch a meaningful top four, or top six, push.

But that’s not important at this very minute. What is important is the away leg in Rome, one that despite winning just one of their last four league matches, Arsenal are in good shape heading into.

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Benfica vs Arsenal match preview for Thursday’s Europa League round of 32 tie at Stadio Olimpico

Hitting four past Leeds inside 55 minutes, while surprisingly to some degree, had been in the offing over the past few weeks. Red cards and an atypical implosion saw the best 45 minutes of the season against Wolves come to nothing, while a second half with so much promise and delightful football against Aston Villa bore no fruit after an individual error in the opening two minutes.

Mikel Arteta has got Arsenal playing an exciting brand of attacking football. The finished article they are not, but the inner workings of a decent team is navigating its way up towards a very good one. A few creases to iron out, but the manager has got his side playing as close to the way he’s wanted since he took the job.

It’s probably not what most would like to believe since Arsenal have previously thrived on the underdog tag, but they come into this tie as favourites. That can be rightly disputed given the current league standings.

Benfica have won two of their previous five matches in all competitions, those wins coming against a second division side and the team rock bottom of Primeira Liga. Both sides will fancy their chances, it’s fair to say.

Occasions such as these are to be excited for. Yes, it’s not the Champions League and, yes, it’s only the round of 32, but it’s European knockout football nonetheless. If you can’t look forward to these then there is little else to get giddy for.

How to Watch on TV

When Is Kick Off? Thursday 18 February
What Time Is Kick Off? 20:00 (GMT)
Where Is it Played? Stadio Olimpico
TV Channel/Live Stream? BT Sport (UK) fuboTV (USA)
Referee? Cüneyt Çakır (TUR)