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Arsenal host Bayer Leverkusen at Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night with their Champions League round-of-16 tie level at 1-1. Kai Havertz’s late penalty in Germany rescued the first leg for Mikel Arteta’s side and left the quarterfinal place to be decided in north London.
The tie remains far less comfortable for Arsenal than many expected. Bayer Leverkusen were the stronger side for long periods in the first leg, and Arsenal needed a late intervention to avoid taking a deficit back to the Emirates.
Arsenal Return With Momentum But Not Full Conviction
Arsenal followed the draw in Germany with a 2-0 win over Everton in the Premier League, though the performance again exposed some of the recent issues in Arteta’s side. Everton pushed Arsenal hard and could count themselves unfortunate not to take something from the match before Max Dowman’s decisive late intervention changed the outcome.
That result still mattered in the wider context of Arsenal’s season. Manchester City then dropped points against West Ham United, leaving Arsenal with a nine-point lead in the title race. The league position offers encouragement, but Tuesday’s challenge is different. Arsenal need a sharper display than the one they produced in Leverkusen if they are to progress cleanly.
Their home record in Europe supports confidence. Arsenal have won 13 of their 16 Champions League matches at the Emirates under Arteta, with the only defeat in that run coming against Paris Saint-Germain in last season’s semifinal.
Bayer Leverkusen Showed In Germany Why They Remain Dangerous
Bayer Leverkusen earned respect in the first leg through the quality of their buildup and midfield play. Robert Andrich’s goal put Kasper Hjulmand’s side in front, and the visitors were described as precise in the way they escaped Arsenal’s press and opened the game up.
Aleix GarcÃa and Exequiel Palacios were especially influential in the first meeting, and Leverkusen will need that same composure in possession if they are to quieten Arsenal in north London. Their recent away win at Manchester City in the league phase is also cited as evidence that they can deliver high-level performances on the road in this competition.
Leverkusen’s weekend Bundesliga game was more chaotic. They drew with Bayern Munich, who ended the match with nine players, a result that left Leverkusen sixth in the table and five points behind Stuttgart in the final Champions League qualification spot.
Arsenal Team News And Predicted Lineup
Arsenal have concerns around Jurriën Timber after he was forced off before halftime against Everton following a collision with Iliman Ndiaye. It remains unclear whether he will recover in time for Tuesday’s match.
Martin Ødegaard is expected to remain out until after the international break because of a knee injury. Leandro Trossard also missed Arsenal’s squad again at the weekend after picking up a knock in the FA Cup.
Max Dowman is not expected to start despite his weekend impact, though he is likely to be used from the bench again.
The predicted Arsenal lineup is: Raya; Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapié; ZubÃmendi, Rice; Saka, Eze, Martinelli; Gyökeres.
Leverkusen Have A Decision To Make Up Front
Bayer Leverkusen’s striker selection looks like one of the key calls before kickoff. Patrik Schick returned to the starting lineup at the weekend after being an unused substitute in the first leg because of injury, but Christian Kofane had impressed in that opening match.
Leverkusen’s broader injury picture is similar to last week. Lucas Vázquez, Mark Flekken, Loïc Badé, Arthur and Eliesse Ben Seghir are all expected to miss out in London, while Martin Terrier is a doubt because of an ankle issue.
The predicted Bayer Leverkusen lineup is: Blaswich; Quansah, Andrich, Tapsoba; Poku, Palacios, GarcÃa, Grimaldo; Tillmann, Hofmann; Schick.
Prediction: Arsenal To Pull Clear At Home
Arsenal are unlikely to find this second leg straightforward, especially given how well Bayer Leverkusen handled the first meeting. Still, the Emirates factor, Arsenal’s strong home record in Europe and the lift from Saturday’s late win point toward the hosts finding a way through.
The prediction in the source material is Arsenal 3-1 Bayer Leverkusen. That scoreline would reflect a tense tie that Arsenal eventually settle at home to move into the Champions League quarterfinals.