A late penalty from German forward Kai Havertz secured a 1-1 draw for Arsenal against Bayer Leverkusen, preserving their unbeaten status in this season's Champions League but ending their perfect winning record The first-leg, last-16 tie in Germany saw Arsenal fall behind for the first time in the competition when Leverkusen captain Robert Andrich scored from a corner early in the second half
The goal was a point of contention and irony, as Arsenal itself is renowned for its set-piece prowess Gunners manager Mikel Arteta expressed disappointment, noting he had specifically warned his players about Leverkusen's routines According to the report, an exchange occurred between Leverkusen manager Kasper Hjulmand and Arsenal's set-piece coach Nicolas Jover, with Hjulmand commenting on Arsenal's use of physical blocks during corners, a tactic he admitted his own team employs
Arsenal struggled to find its rhythm for much of the match, with Arteta making the unusual decision to substitute captain Bukayo Saka after a subdued performance The change proved decisive when Saka's replacement, Noni Madueke, won a penalty in the 89th minute after being brought down in the box Leverkusen disputed the decision, but Havertz, a former Leverkusen player, converted the spot-kick with composure The away goal gives Arsenal a crucial advantage heading into the return leg at Emirates Stadium next week, where they will be favourites to advance
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