Arsenal drew 1-1 with Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of the Champions League last 16. Kai Havertz, a product of the German club, scored the equalizing goal from a penalty kick, giving the Gunners a valuable advantage ahead of the return leg in London.

Havertz's Return

Kai Havertz scored a goal against his former club, setting the final score at 1:1.

Mikel Arteta's Analysis

The Arsenal manager admitted the team was not at its best but appreciated the impact of substitute Noni Madueke.

Missed Chances

Gabriel Martinelli hit the crossbar early in the match, which could have changed the course of the game.

Return Leg in London

The decisive clash for a place in the quarter-finals will take place on March 17 at Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal drew 1-1 away to Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of the Champions League last 16, played on March 11, 2026. The German team took the lead after a shot from Robert Andrich, but the visitors managed to equalize in the final phase of the match. The goal for the Londoners was scored by Kai Havertz, who successfully converted a penalty awarded for a foul in the hosts' penalty area. The draw puts the English team in the role of favorite ahead of the return leg, although the Leverkusen players promise to fight for advancement at their rival's stadium.

The course of the match was even, and both sides had difficulty creating clear scoring opportunities in the first half. The breakthrough came when Robert Andrich beat the Arsenal goalkeeper, giving Bayer hope of victory in front of their home crowd. The visitors' manager, Mikel Arteta, decided on substitutions that revitalized his team's offensive play. The introduction of substitute Noni Madueke proved crucial; his runs in the wide areas forced the Bayer defense to drop deeper.

For Kai Havertz, this was a special performance due to his return to the club where he spent eight years, progressing through all levels of the academy. The German striker admitted after the match that his team did not perform to its full potential but considers the result valuable in the context of the two-legged tie. „Arsenal not at best in Leverkusen but will finish job next week” — Kai Havertz via Reuters Bayer Leverkusen and Arsenal faced each other in the Champions League group stage in the 2001/2002 season. Back then, the match in London ended 1:1, and in the return leg in Germany, the hosts won 1:1. Arsenal in the current 2025/2026 campaign was defending its status as a team with a perfect win record in this edition of the competition, which it lost after the draw in Leverkusen.

The fate of advancement to the quarter-finals will be decided next week in London. The Bayer Leverkusen coaching staff, despite losing the lead late in the game, expresses optimism ahead of the trip to England, emphasizing a solid defensive performance for most of the match. The return fixture at Arsenal Stadium is scheduled for March 17, 2026. Champions League Last 16 (First Leg): Bayer Leverkusen 1:1 Arsenal Return Fixture Schedule: March 17, 2026 — Champions League Last 16 return leg in London

Mentioned People

  • Kai Havertz — German professional footballer who plays as a forward or attacking midfielder for Premier League club Arsenal and the Germany national team.
  • Mikel Arteta — Spanish professional football manager and former player who is the manager of Premier League club Arsenal.
  • Noni Madueke — English professional footballer who plays as a winger for Premier League club Arsenal and the England national team.
  • Robert Andrich — German footballer who plays as a midfielder for Bayer Leverkusen, scorer of the goal in the match.
  • Gabriel Martinelli — Brazilian footballer who plays as a forward for Arsenal.