The Europa League represents a LAST CHANCE for Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal to save their season

Last night, when Rafa Silva, from Benfica, took advantage of the second significant mistake of Dani Ceballos’ night to get around Bernd Leno and score, Arsenal’s season was on the line.

Suddenly, a tie that they controlled tightly until the final minutes of the first half broke in their faces. Now, with half an hour remaining, they needed two goals to save the season.

Save a thought for Mikel Arteta, who watching from the outside must have feared the inevitable attack that would have followed the elimination of the last 32 in the Europa League. Work at stake? The progress this season really would have looked bleak.

Of the two national cups, 11th in the Premier League – secondary competition from Europe represented a last chance for the Gunners this season. And it’s only February.

Fortunately for the Spaniard, his most trusted senior players acted when they needed it most, in neutral territory in Athens. A lifeline for the Arsenal chief.

First Kieran Tierney – a bright light in six months otherwise largely overlooked – pierced the tie before teenage star Bukayo Saka hit a free header for the captain who became savior Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to spare the artillerymen with three minutes left on the clock.

The full-time celebrations showed you everything you needed to know. The relief was palpable throughout the team, which lives to fight another day in the round of 16 starting next month.

Arteta will be the most relieved of them all.

Just two months ago, his team, lacking confidence after a bad start to the season, came back on top and made a series of decent displays.

Before that, it was Arsenal’s worst start to the season in 46 years. Difficult to understand, but the conversation about relegation started to surface.

Meanwhile, Aubameyang, who was so clinical and effective in the Gunners’ FA Cup triumph at the end of last season, failed to hit the barn door, let alone the back of the net.

But now, the Gabonese is back to his finishing touch, exemplified by the two goals scored on Thursday.

“In the last few days after the game in Rome against them, where he missed three or four opportunities and it’s usually three goals for him,” said Arteta later.

‘He needed to react and it was great to see that the way he reacted was getting upset and trying to get better – and not just sad for yourself right now.

‘This is the beautiful thing about football, if you continue, you will always have a chance to fix it.’

As for Saka, he again showed no signs of his form plummeting.

He set up Aubameyang’s two goals, the first with a perfectly balanced ball and the second a cross from the back post. He also scored the crucial away goal in Rome last week.

Does Arsenal depend a lot on the creativity of the 19 year old? It might be. But as long as he continues to act, they have a chance.

Even former Gunners captain Cesc Fabregas announced it as a ‘game changer’.

Now, Champions League football next season is still a fervent possibility. A long way to go, but the way remains open.

In a way, it is similar to the scenario that Unai Emery faced two years ago. In 2018-19, his entire season depended on the Europa League final against Chelsea in order to qualify for Europe’s top club competition.

They were humiliated 4-1 in Baku. Six months later, Emery is gone. Does this Spaniard go the same way?

Ironically, he will be a known opponent in the round of 16. After Friday’s draw, Arsenal return to Athens to face Olympiacos, who eliminated them from the competition last season, in a memorable game due to Aubameyang’s blatant failure at the end of the game.

None of those chances can afford to lose this time. A good season in Europe – ending with glory on May 22 in Gdansk – is the only prize that can save Arsenal’s season.