Arsenal drew 1-1 away to Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League last-16 first leg after Robert Andrich struck just after half-time, before Kai Havertz marked his return to his former club with a late penalty.
Arsenal left Germany with the tie level after a 1-1 draw against Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of their Champions League round-of-16 meeting, but the route to that result was awkward for long spells. Robert Andrich put the home side ahead 46 seconds into the second half, and only a penalty from Kai Havertz in the 89th minute prevented Mikel Arteta’s side from taking a deficit back to north London. In the end, Arsenal had to show patience rather than authority, and it was Havertz, on his first return to the club where he developed for a decade, who supplied the decisive late intervention.
Arsenal threaten first, but Andrich sets the tone
The game opened with an immediate warning sign for Leverkusen. Inside two minutes, Andrich was booked after hauling down Viktor Gyokeres just outside the area, a foul that halted Arsenal’s first sharp break of the night. It was an early yellow that left the midfielder walking a tightrope, one he was lucky to keep on top of after a second foul minutes later, that Arsenal felt should have seen him served a second yellow.
Arsenal’s best moment of the first half came in the 19th minute. Gabriel Martinelli arrived at the end of a crisp move and struck the bar, the closest either side came before the break. Beyond that, the opening period was controlled more by caution than incision. Leverkusen’s teenage forward Christian Kofane caught the eye with his movement, while Arsenal had enough of the ball without consistently opening the game up. At half-time, the contest still felt finely balanced.
Leverkusen strike after the restart
That balance changed almost immediately after the restart. David Raya had to make an excellent save within seconds of the second half, pawing away Martin Terrier’s header, but Arsenal did not survive the resulting pressure. From the corner that followed, Alejandro Grimaldo curled the delivery beyond the far post and Andrich arrived late, unmarked, to head Leverkusen in front in the 46th minute. It was a poor goal for Arsenal to concede, not least because set-pieces are usually one of their stronger areas.
The goal changed the mood of the game. Leverkusen looked sharper and more purposeful for the next stretch, while Arsenal struggled to turn possession into clear openings. Arteta responded by introducing Noni Madueke on the hour for Bukayo Saka, and the change helped. Madueke brought urgency and more direct running, while Arsenal gradually pushed Leverkusen back towards their own area. Still, clear chances remained limited.
Havertz has the final word on his return
Arteta then turned to Havertz in the 75th minute, and the reception was warm from both sets of supporters. Arsenal’s equaliser arrived in the 89th minute and it came from the spot. Havertz stepped up and converted the penalty to make it 1-1, turning the first leg back in Arsenal’s favour after a long spell in which they had looked set to return home behind.
The second leg is scheduled for 17 March at the Emirates Stadium, and Arsenal will begin it knowing they recovered from a difficult night rather than controlled it from the start.