Arsenal require nothing less than victory on the night against Bayer Leverkusen to book their place in the Champions League quarter-finals and keep their hopes of an unprecedented quadruple alive.
The Gunners were fortunate to leave the BayArena with their last-16 tie all square, with a contentious late penalty from former Leverkusen star Havertz cancelling out Robert Andrich’s opener just after half-time.
Mikel Arteta’s side remain in a strong position to progress but will need to prevent any slip-ups at home to avoid a shocking European exit.
Arsenal will be in high spirits off the back of the weekend, which saw 16-year-old Max Dowman become the youngest Premier League goalscorer ever as he inspired a potentially defining win over Everton to take the leaders nine points clear.
Follow all the action from the Emirates Stadium in our live blog below:
Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen LIVE
- Arsenal host Bayer Leverkusen in a pivotal Champions League last-16 second leg | Kick-off at 8pm GMT, live on TNT Sports
- The Gunners need a win after only just salvaging a contentious 1-1 draw in Germany
- Max Dowman's weekend heroics have Arsenal in high spirits
- Arsenal XI: Raya; White, Gabriel, Saliba, Hincapie; Rice, Zubimendi, Eze; Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard
- Bayer Leverkusen XI: Blaswich; Tapsoba, Andrich, Quansah; Poku, Palacios, Garcia, Grimaldo; Maza, Terrier; Kofane
Could Max Dowman play tonight?
19:20 , Will CastleMax Dowman became the Premier League’s youngest goalscorer at 16 years and 73 days during his stunning 22-minute cameo against Everton on the weekend.
When asked if the teenage sensation is ready to play regularly, Arteta replied: "Yeah regularly. Depending on what you call regularly.
"Depending on the game and how he reacts - I think his reaction has been really positive and in relation to what we need in the game.
"To do what he did in such a moment, it's very rare to see, or impossible almost. He's done it and now it's football and what you've done a few days ago is not relevant any more, it's about the next one."
Bayer Leverkusen a difficult team to beat
19:10 , Will CastleBayer Leverkusen don’t come into tonight’s clash in the best of form, with the 2023/24 Bundesliga champions experiencing something of a drop-off since their star-studded squad was stripped of its elite talent.
They sit in sixth, 22 points off the pinnacle of the German top flight, and face a tough four-way race for the Champions League places.
They have nevertheless proved a tough team to beat, holding nine-men Bayern Munich to a 1-1 draw on the weekend, while they haven’t lost to English opposition this term - stunning Man City 2-0 at the Etihad before drawing 2-2 with Newcastle in the league phase.
Can Arsenal do what no other Premier League team has managed tonight?
English clubs face a Champions League wipeout – but one thing can save them
19:00 , Miguel DelaneyThe Manchester City players have already taken in one message from Pep Guardiola, as they attempt what amounts to one of the greatest challenges in Champions League history. Bernardo Silva articulated some of it when he spoke on Monday before their last-16 second leg against Real Madrid.
“With one goal, the atmosphere of the ground will change,” said the Portuguese midfielder.
There is more to that comment than just an appeal to the crowd. The mythos of the Champions League remontada has now become so pronounced – to the point the Spanish name for grand comebacks has become commonplace – that there is a blueprint.
English clubs face a Champions League wipeout – but one thing can save them
Bayer Leverkusen go with the 'if it ain't broke' approach
18:57 , Will CastleBayer Leverkusen have fielded an identical XI to the team that came very close to beating Arsenal last week.
Kasper Hjulmand will hope his attack of Martin Terrier, Christian Kofane and Ibrahim Maza can do more damage than they managed in Germany, with defender Robert Andrich the goalscorer then.
Patrick Schick and Malik Tillman drop to the bench from the weekend’s draw against Bayern.
Viktor Gyokeres restored to Arsenal team
18:54 , Will CastleViktor Gyokeres has been restored to Mikel Arteta’s starting XI after being benched for the weekend’s win over Everton.
Arsenal also bring in Ben White at right-back with Jurrien Timber out, with Leandro Trossard makes fitness to return.
Teenage sensation Max Dowman, who scored on the weekend, is among the substitutes.
Bayer Leverkusen team news
18:47 , Will CastleBayer Leverkusen XI: Blaswich; Tapsoba, Andrich, Quansah; Poku, Palacios, Garcia, Grimaldo; Maza, Terrier; Kofane.
Subs: Omlin, Lomb, Fernandez, Hofmann, Tillman, Schick, Oermann, Tape, Culbreath.
TEAM NEWS TIME! ⚫️🔴#ARSB04 pic.twitter.com/Zu7bApdSME
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) March 17, 2026
Arsenal team news
18:46 , Will CastleArsenal XI: Raya; White, Gabriel, Saliba, Hincapie; Rice, Zubimendi, Eze; Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard.
Subs: Arrizabalaga, Ranson, Mosquera, Jesus, Martinelli, Norgaard, Madueke, Havertz, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman.
🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) March 17, 2026
🏴 White in at right-back
🇧🇪 Trossard returns to the XI
🇸🇪 Gyokeres up top
Let's lead from the front, Gunners 👊
Closing in on team news
18:43 , Will CastleJust a couple minutes until we learn the line-ups for tonight’s crunch clash...
All checked in 🛎️
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) March 17, 2026
📍 Arsenal Stadium pic.twitter.com/AH2ISJKFWo
Arsenal set for transfer boost after Chelsea hit with academy ban
18:30 , Miguel DelaneyArsenal are well placed to profit from Chelsea’s sanctions over breaching Premier League rules by signing some of the best young players in the country in the coming months.
Chelsea were hit with a nine-month Academy transfer ban after self-reporting potential historical breaches of rules during the Roman Abramovich era in 2022.
An independent commission has now concluded its findings, handing out the Academy ban, in addition to a one-year first-team ban on transfers, which is suspended for two years.
Arsenal set for transfer boost after Chelsea hit with academy ban
How Max Dowman galvanised Arsenal’s title charge – and what next for history-making teenager
18:20 , Miguel DelaneyAs the Arsenal players got into an ecstatic dressing room, the man of the match wasn’t there. Goalscorer Viktor Gyokeres even came in carrying his award.
That is all because Max Dowman isn’t actually the man of the match but the boy of the match, since he’s still… just a child. Premier League rules mean he’s not actually allowed to change in the same dressing room as adults. He has to go around near the referees’ room.
Maybe it also serves as another little way to keep a mere 16-year-old centred after such a moment, too, but nobody who knows the Dowmans says he needs that. His parents are said to still ground him for misbehaving, and are conscious of keeping the obvious confidence that comes with such ability in check.
They were of course among many people at Arsenal in tears after Dowman scored that crucial clinching goal against Everton. As was openly being said in the dressing room by many staff, they’d known him since he was small. You might quip that wasn’t that long ago, but it also speaks to the speed of his development.
And here he was, at 16 years and 73 days, becoming the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history.
How Dowman galvanised Arsenal’s title charge – and what next for history-making teen
A magnificent evening in N7
18:10 , Will Castle
Arsenal on a high
18:00 , Will CastleThings might have not gone exactly to plan in Leverkusen last week, but they enter their return leg on the highest of highs, off potentially sealing a first Premier League title in 22 years.
The weekend’s late win over Everton, inspired by 16-year-old Max Dowman, sent Arsenal nine points clear of Manchester City at the top, with that electrifying teenager becoming the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history.
Another big night at the Emirates tonight and Arsenal will stay on course for their quadruple.
Want to relive Saturday night to get in the mood? Here’s Miguel Delaney’s match report:
Max Dowman, a Premier League record and 22 minutes which changed the title race
Mikel Arteta gives Martin Odegaard fitness update ahead of pivotal week
17:45 , Will CastleMikel Arteta has offered a glimmer of hope that captain Martin Odegaard could be available to lead Arsenal in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley.
The influential midfielder has been sidelined since the 4-1 victory over Tottenham on 22 February due to a knee injury and is set to miss Tuesday’s Champions League last-16 second leg against Bayer Leverkusen at Emirates Stadium.
"We are really pushing him," Gunners manager Arteta confirmed. "He really wants to try to be available but we’ll have to wait and see how he feels over the next few days when he trains with the team.
“We know the game that we’re going to be playing in a few days again and the more players that we have the better."
How things fared in the first leg
17:30 , Will CastleKai Havertz climbed off the bench to score a last-gasp equaliser against the club where he began his career to earn Arsenal a 1-1 draw at Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie.
The Gunners, who had topped the league phase having won all eight games, were trailing to Robert Andrich’s goal – from a corner, of all things – with a minute of normal time remaining.
But Havertz kept his nerve after fellow substitute Noni Madueke was brought down in the area to snatch a draw and leave Arsenal as favourites to reach a third-consecutive quarter-final.
Here’s our report from the first leg in Germany:
Kai Havertz nets late Arsenal equaliser at former side Bayer Leverkusen
Predicted line-ups
17:15 , Will CastleArsenal XI: Raya; Mosquera, Gabriel, Saliba, Hincapie; Rice, Zubimendi; Saka, Havertz, Martinelli; Gyokeres.
Bayer Leverkusen XI: Blaswich; Tapsoba, Andrich, Quansah; Poku, Palacios, Garcia, Grimaldo; Maza, Tillman; Schick.
Early team news
17:10 , Will CastleArteta remains Mikel Merino and Martin Odegaard due to injury, while Jurrien Timber is a doubt having limped off during Saturday’s win against Everton. Leandro Trossard is fit to feature despite a knock sustained in the first leg.
Leverkusen, meanwhile, arrive in north London without former Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken, Loic Bade, Lucas Vazquez and Arthur Augusto. Kasper Hjulmand’s team drew 1-1 at home to Bayern Munich on Saturday.
Is Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen on TV?
17:05 , Will CastleArsenal’s meeting with Bayer Leverkusen kicks off at 8pm GMT on Tuesday 17 March at Emirates Stadium.
How can I watch it?
Fans in the UK can watch the clash on TNT Sports 1, with coverage starting at 7pm GMT. The match can also be streamed on discovery+.
Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen LIVE!
17:00 , Will CastleArsenal require nothing less than victory on the night against Bayer Leverkusen to book their place in the Champions League quarter-finals and keep their hopes of an unprecedented quadruple alive.
The Gunners were fortunate to leave the BayArena with their last-16 tie all square, with a contentious late penalty from former Leverkusen star Havertz cancelling out Robert Andrich’s opener just after half-time.
Mikel Arteta’s side remain in a strong position to progress but will need to prevent any slip-ups at home to avoid a shocking European exit.
Arsenal will be in high spirits off the back of the weekend, which saw 16-year-old Max Dowman become the youngest Premier League goalscorer ever as he inspired a potentially defining win over Everton to take the leaders nine points clear.
Good afternoon
15:56 , Will CastleHello there and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of this evening’s pivotal Champions League tie between Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen.
We’ll have all the build-up, team news and match action right here!
