European away nights are never easy, and our trip to face Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League Round of 16 first leg was no exception. It was a tactical chess match from start to finish.
A Tense Affair
Leverkusen showed why they are notoriously difficult to break down. They sat deep, absorbed pressure, and looked to strike on the counter. The first half ended goalless, with both sides struggling to carve out clear-cut opportunities.
The breakthrough came for the hosts in the second half when Robert Andrich found the back of the net, putting us under pressure to find a response.
Havertz Haunts His Former Club (Again)
We pushed hard for an equalizer, and our persistence was rewarded late in the game. We were awarded a vital penalty, and up stepped Kai Havertz. Against his former club—just as he did with Chelsea earlier this year—Havertz showed immense composure to convert the spot-kick and ensure we left Germany with a crucial away goal and a 1-1 draw.
"A 1-1 draw away in Europe is a solid result. Now we take them back to our stadium, with our fans, and the objective is clear," said Arteta.
With the tie perfectly balanced, all eyes turn to the Emirates for the deciding leg!
Man of the Match: Kai Havertz 🇩🇪
Showed incredible nerve to dispatch the pressure penalty against his old team.
Image Credits https://www.arsenal.com/