On the evening of 11/3 at BayArena, Arsenal struggled, creating only one clear chance – Gabriel Martinelli's shot hitting the crossbar – in the first half. Just 50 seconds after the break, Leverkusen opened the scoring with Robert Andrich's header from a corner kick. It was not until the 89th minute, from a controversial penalty decision, that Kai Havertz scored, securing a 1-1 draw for Arsenal.

Manager Mikel Arteta instructs Arsenal players during the Champions League round of 16 first leg at BayArena, Leverkusen, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany on 11/3/2026. Photo: ANP

Arteta stated that Arsenal discussed improving their play and creating more chances during halftime. However, the team lacked focus at the start of the second half and conceded from a set-piece. "When you give an advantage and confidence to an opponent at this level, they will capitalize immediately," he said after the match.

The Spanish coach also admitted Arsenal lacked concentration during the corner kick that led to Leverkusen's goal, despite prior warnings from the coaching staff. "We showed the players three similar situations from their match last weekend, but we were still not ready and were exploited," he explained.

This was Arsenal's worst Champions League performance of the season, following their perfect record in the group stage. Arteta viewed the draw against Leverkusen as a reminder of the Champions League's intensity, especially when playing away. "In this competition, beating any opponent is very difficult, particularly away from home. This highlights that our previous eight consecutive wins were a remarkable achievement," the 43-year-old coach stated.

Yesterday in Germany, all four attacking stars – Bukayo Saka, Eberechi Eze, Gabriel Martinelli, and Viktor Gyokeres – disappointed, leaving Arsenal struggling and generating an expected goals (xG) statistic of just 1,65.

Only after Madueke and Havertz entered the game did Arsenal begin to find space in the final third. These two substitutes directly contributed to the valuable equalizer. Madueke's run into the penalty area drew a foul from Malik Tillman, earning a penalty that Havertz converted.

Arteta mentioned the absence of captain Martin Odegaard, acknowledging the Norwegian midfielder's unique qualities, but emphasized that Arsenal still possesses many talented players and needs to improve attacking efficiency. He admitted Arsenal's poor execution in the final third around the penalty area, often losing possession and allowing Leverkusen to counter. Concurrently, he praised his players' reaction in the final 25-30 minutes, noting their continuous pressure to find an equalizer.

Arteta praised Noni Madueke, highlighting his bold dribbling and ability to create breakthroughs as significant strengths of the English winger. The 43-year-old coach also commended Havertz's composure. "He took the penalty very calmly. Football sometimes brings special stories. Havertz returning to Leverkusen, a place he once called home, and scoring such an important goal is a memorable moment," he expressed.

Looking ahead to the second leg in London on 17/3, Arteta affirmed that Arsenal will thoroughly analyze areas for improvement, particularly executing simple details more effectively, and is confident in securing a spot in the quarter-finals.

By Hong Duy (Source: Arsenal.com)