Arsenal takes on Bayer Leverkusen tonight at the Emirates Stadium, aiming to secure a spot in the Champions League quarter-finals in this crucial second-leg match.
The Gunners come into this match following a solid 2-0 win over Everton, which helped them maintain their lead in the Premier League and extend their unbeaten streak to 13 games.
In the first leg at BayArena, Arsenal managed to bounce back from an early goal by Robert Andrich, with Kai Havertz scoring a late penalty to equalize. Under Mikel Arteta, Arsenal has had a strong home record in this competition, winning 13 out of 16 matches at the Emirates. They are also unbeaten in their last three competitive encounters with the German side.
Bayer Leverkusen arrives in London as known “stalemate specialists,” having drawn five of their last six games across competitions. In their latest match, they settled for a 1-1 draw against Bayern Munich, despite the latter finishing the game with nine players.
Historically, Leverkusen has faced challenges in England, with eight losses in their 11 away matches. However, they did achieve a notable 2-0 victory against Manchester City earlier in the league phase. With a bid for their first Champions League quarter-final spot since their 2002 final appearance, Leverkusen will need to overcome Arsenal’s solid defense to keep their European hopes alive.
Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen – Match Preview and Team News
- Date: Tuesday, 17 March 2026
- Kick-off: 20:00 GMT
- Venue: Emirates Stadium, London
- Referee: Danny Makkelie
- VAR: Dennis Higler
- Last Meeting: Bayer Leverkusen 1–1 Arsenal (11 March 2026, UCL)
Team News
Arsenal
Mikel Arteta is concerned about Jurriën Timber’s fitness after he was injured in the first half against Everton. Martin Ødegaard and Leandro Trossard are also doubtful, while Mikel Merino is confirmed out.
Declan Rice was outstanding in the first leg, successfully completing 96% of his passes—the highest for an Arsenal midfielder in a knockout match since 2010. Viktor Gyökeres is likely to start after scoring in the previous match.
Bayer Leverkusen
Leverkusen is waiting on the availability of goalscorer Aleix Garcia (head) and Martin Terrier (ankle), who were injured against Bayern. Full-back Alejandro Grimaldo is back after completing a domestic ban.
Grimaldo has been crucial for Leverkusen, creating 26 chances in the Champions League this season—a club record. They also have several players sidelined due to injuries, including Mark Flekken, Arthur, and Lucas Vázquez.
Form
Arsenal
Arsenal is in great form, on a 13-match unbeaten streak across all competitions, including 10 wins and a nine-point lead at the top of the Premier League. The Gunners have made the Emirates a tough place for opponents, winning their last six home games and achieving four clean sheets during this stretch.
Bayer Leverkusen
Leverkusen arrives in London after three draws and just one win since February, maintaining a six-match unbeaten run. While they have been drawing often, their defense has held strong; they have conceded only one goal in their last four European matches, which was a penalty by Havertz in the first leg. Left-back Piero Hincapié has been impressive, with a tournament-high 77.3% success rate in duels.
Predicted Lineups
Arsenal Predicted XI (4-3-3): Raya; Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice; Madueke, Saka, Martinelli; Gyokeres
Bayer Leverkusen Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Blaswich; Andrich, Quansah, Tapsoba; Poku, Fernandez, Palacios, Grimaldo; Maza, Terrier; Kofane
How to Watch Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen?
The match will be broadcast live in the UK on TNT Sports 1, starting at 19:00 GMT ahead of the 20:00 kick-off.
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