⚽ UEFA Champions League 2025‑26 – Round Of 16 Second Leg: Arsenal 2-0 Bayer Leverkusen

Arsenal progressed to the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals on 17 March 2026 after a commanding 2–0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen at the Emirates Stadium, securing a 3–1 aggregate win. Following a 1–1 draw in the first leg in Germany, the Gunners dominated the second leg with standout goals from Eberechi Eze and Declan Rice.

Match Summary

The tie was delicately balanced after the first leg, but Arsenal took control early at home, finishing the night with 12 shots on target to Leverkusen's 2.

• First Half: Arsenal pressed intensely from the start. The breakthrough came in the 36th minute when 
  Eberechi Eze
   received a pass from Leandro Trossard, swivelled, and struck a sensational right-footed volley into the top corner from 20 yards out. It was Eze’s first-ever Champions League goal.
• Second Half: 
  Declan Rice
   doubled the lead in the 63rd minute. After Leverkusen failed to properly clear an Arsenal corner, Rice intercepted the ball, took a touch, and rifled a low shot from the edge of the box into the bottom corner.
• Late Drama: Kai Havertz had a third goal disallowed for handball in the 72nd minute. Leverkusen’s best chance came late, but 
  David Raya
   made a phenomenal full-length save to deny Christian Kofane’s snap shot and preserve the clean sheet.

Key Statistics

Category	Arsenal	Bayer Leverkusen
Score (Aggregate)	2 (3)	0 (1)
Shots (On Target)	21 (12)	9 (2)
Expected Goals (xG)	1.75	0.52
Corners	10	8
Saves	2	10

Notable Performances

• Eberechi Eze
  : Became only the second English player for Arsenal to score in the Premier League, FA Cup, League Cup, and Champions League in a single season.
• Declan Rice: Described as "immense" by Mikel Arteta, Rice dominated the midfield and scored the decisive second goal.
• Defensive Duo: William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães won 12 of their 14 combined duels, effectively neutralizing Leverkusen's attack.

What's Next?

Arsenal will face Sporting CP in the quarter-finals in April 2026. Their attention now turns to the Carabao Cup final against Manchester City this Sunday at Wembley Stadium.