Arsenal are through to the Europa League semi-finals after a 2-2 draw against CSKA Moscow in their quarter-final second leg led them to a 6-3 aggregate victory on Thursday evening, writes DEAN WORKMAN.

The Gunners came into the game with a comfortable 4-1 aggregate lead after a convincing performance at the Emirates stadium. In a week filled with memorable comebacks, the Russians were looking to add their name to that list.

Both teams started slowly, and it took 25 minutes for the game to open up as they were both afforded half-chances, but neither could capitalise.

Viktor Goncharenko’s men finally broke the deadlock. A ball was whipped into the box and Kirill Nababkin rose above Nacho Monreal at the back post, his header was spectacularly saved by Petr Cech and Fyodo Chalov reacted quickest tapping the ball into the net, 1-0 to the home side with 39 minutes gone.

It was all CSKA but they could not double their lead before the break, 1-0 at the break.

The home side started the second half the way they ended the first and it was not long until they got their second goal. Konstantin Kuchayev’s long-range shot was parried by Cech and again the Arsenal defence was to slow to react, this time allowing Nababkin in, who made no mistake with the finish. It was 52 gone, 2-0 up on the night, 4-3 down on aggregate and the comeback was truly on.

Against the run of play, Arsenal thought they pulled a goal back on 58 minutes. Mohammed Elneny’s header found the bottom corner but the linesman raised his flag, ruling the goal out for offside.

Arsenal then got the decisive away goal on 75 minutes. The move was started and finished by Danny Welbeck. The Englishman left his man behind with a silky turn, he then played a one-two with Elneny, receiving the ball in the box and calmly curling it beyond Igor Akinfeev into the back of the net.

Aaron Ramsey then grabbed Arsenal’s equaliser in stoppage time. The home side were pushing forward, exposing themselves at the back and a well-played Elneny through ball put the Welshman through on goal and he calmly scooped the ball over the goalkeeper.

Arsenal are through to the semi-finals of the Europa League after a 6-3 aggregate victory.