Arsenal vs Benfica: 4 talking points from Europa League draw

Arsenal were left to rue missed chances as Bukayo Saka’s equaliser could only secure a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their Europa League round of 32 tie with Benfica in Rome.

With the ‘home’ side choosing to adopt a risky high line, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was turning into prime Christian Benteke with the sheer volume of offside calls.

Benfica, who were desperately poor, should have been punished early on in the first half when the captain fluffed his lines after being found from Hector Bellerin’s cross, a miss that proved crucial in the end.

The laborious pre-Christmas style was more evident in the first half with central areas bypassed in favour of wide overloads, and while Arsenal had some joy with their linking up in those areas, they couldn’t find the breakthrough.

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Benfica vs Arsenal: 4 talking points as Bukayo Saka secures 1-1 draw in Europa League first leg

It eventually came via Pizzi’s penalty, as he evoked his inner Bruno Fernandes from the spot after Emile Smith Rowe was adjudged to have handled in the box.

The hosts’ lead lasted less than two minutes as a delightful move from Arsenal culminated in Bukayo Saka tapping home from close range. Hoping to see a barrage on the Benfica goal from there, Arsenal didn’t test Helton enough but could still have grabbed another crucial away goal had Aubameyang converted his chances.

No further goals were forthcoming as the Portuguese side were content to see the game out for a draw, meaning it is advantage Arsenal next Thursday for the return leg in Athens.

Here are the talking points.

Timid Arsenal

Do Arsenal overplay? It’s the old adage that they always try and ‘walk it in’. In Rome that outlook returned to the fore as the intricate perfectionism resulted in a less risk-taking, gutsy approach.

Is the volume of technical players on the pitch part of that reason? Too many cooks spoiling the broth? You’d argue not considering the lack of conversion in periods of dominance has been a staple ingredient of this season.

The opening exchanges of the game saw Arsenal pump players into the 18-yard area and seek to assert their superiority from the off, a ploy that gradually waned as the match wore on.

Bringing on Nicolas Pepe and Gabriel Martinelli in the final 15 minutes was a throwback to the Arsene Wenger era, where this stage of matches doesn’t call for persistent, structured play and instead leans on getting your match winners on the pitch to exploit opposition fatigue and disorganisation.

Some more ruthlessness has to be incorporated. It’s a balancing act that is fine poised but not yet fully unearthed. Arsenal are, though, edging nearer to a result in that department.