The much hyped match between Arsenal F.C and Bayre 04 Leverkusen had an explosive conclusion in the first leg of the round of 16 of the UEFA champions league.
The game was played in BayArena in Germany that kept the fans glued to the end with the final minutes. At the moment it appeared Leverkusen was tears away with a vital home win, Arsenal came to the rescue, with Kai Havertz rescuing the English team with a dramatic penalty in the 89 th minute.
The outcome is the tie is left open in front of the final second leg in London.
Leverkusen vs Arsenal football game outcome.
Final Score:
- Leverkusen 1 – 1 Arsenal
Goal Scorers
Leverkusen
- Robert Andrich – 46’
Arsenal
- Kai Havertz – 89’ (Penalty)
Leverkusen was deprived of a good first-leg victory by the late equalizer, which provided Arsenal with an important away-leg outcome before the second leg at the Emirates Stadium.
Sluggish First Half and high tension.
The game was started in a very slow manner because both sides concentrated on defensive discipline. Arsenal dominated the ball in the beginning, yet the structured back line of Leverkusen ensured that the Premiership team could not easily get a chance to score.
Among the best moments in the history of Arsenal, there was when Gabriel Martinelli hit the crossbar in the first half, almost scoring.
The first half was not marked by any further goals resulting in 0-0, which preconditioned an active second half.
Leverkusen Take the Lead
The very first goal just after the halftime shocked Arsenal by Leverkusen.
At the 46 th minute, a midfielder named Robert Andrich scored a strong header of a corner kick. The goal led to the celebration of the home fans and provided the German side with the great advantage.
The aim also revealed a rare deficiency in the defense of Arsenal which had been good throughout the champions league campaign.
Arsenal finds it difficult to penetrate.
Arsenal conceded and then put more pressure and attempted to equalize.
The tactical alterations introduced by Manager Mikel Arteta brought new attacking players to increase the probability of the team.
The defence of Leverkusen was, however, stern and impenetrable. During the second half, Arsenal did not manage to produce good scoring opportunities.
- As the time elapsed, it looked like Leverkusen was going to win a notorious draw.
- Havertz comes back to haunt previous club.
- The theatrics came when the 89 th minute was reached.
The winger of Arsenal, Noni Madueke, was caught within the penalty area and the referee gave him a penalty following a review of the VAR.
Former Leverkusen star Kai Havertz went up to play the spot kick.
Havertz, with a calm mind and despite the pressure and the antagonistic crowd, managed to change the penalty into a goal that made it 1-1 saved Arsenal in the last burnout moments of the game.
- The objective was particularly emotional since Havertz started his work career in Leverkusen.
- There was controversy over the decision during the penalty.
- The sentence was a hot news shortly after the game.
The players and the manager of Leverkusen claimed that there was not much physical contact between Madueke and the defender and the penalty was unwarranted.
But VAR affirmed the referee on his decision and the goal was counted.
The outcome was the same with the game being a 1-1 draw though it was a controversial result.
Match Statistics
Here are some key match stats:
| Category | Leverkusen | Arsenal |
| Possession | 45% | 55% |
| Shots | 10 | 6 |
| Shots on Target | 3 | 2 |
| Corner Kicks | 2 | 3 |
In the course of the game, Arsenal controlled the ball more, whereas Leverkusen made more offensive opportunities.
What This Result Means
The match is now at a draw with the champions league.
For Arsenal:
- The late goal ensures that their winning streak in the contest does not die.
- This has the benefit of them playing the second leg at home.
For Leverkusen:
- They lost an opportunity of leading by the first leg.
- To move on they now require winning in London.
Key Players in the Match
Kai Havertz (Arsenal)
Won the key match-tie against his former club and was very calm when pressed in difficult situations.
Robert Andrich (Leverkusen)
His strong header brought Leverkusen the first goal at the beginning of the second half.
Noni Madueke (Arsenal)
Late penalty which led to a change in the result of the game.
Everything will depend on the Second Leg.
The second portion of the tie will be in London in the Emirates stadium.
The next match will be even more competitive as both teams will be struggling to secure a spot in the quarterfinals of the Champions League.
Arsenal will attempt to enjoy the advantage of playing at home, and Leverkusen would attempt to create an unexpected outcome in a foreign country.
Final Thoughts
The Leverkusen vs Arsenal match provided all that the fans want in a Champions League knockout football, tension, controversy and late drama.
Leverkusen was about to be defeated when Robert Andrich scored in the second half, but a penalty goal in the last minute of the game altered the narrative of the evening courtesy of Kai Havertz.
It is now a draw with a score of 1-1 and all will be settled in the second leg both teams will be fighting to secure an appearance in the elite of Europe.
