Kai Havertz scored a crucial late penalty against his former club Bayer Leverkusen to give Arsenal the upper hand ahead of their Champions League last-16 second leg at the Emirates next week.
Leverkusen took the lead through captain Robert Andrich’s second-half header, having been the better side for much of the contest.
But the lively Noni Madueke earned a penalty with a tricky run into the box which brought a foul, and Havertz made no mistake as the first leg ended 1-1.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal live
- Bayer Leverkusen draw 1-1 with Arsenal in Champions League last-16 first leg
- 89' GOAL! Havertz scores late penalty [LEV 1-1 ARS]
- 84' CLOSE! Timber heads over from close range [LEV 1-0 ARS]
- 47' GOAL! Andrich header gives hosts the lead [LEV 1-0 ARS]
- 20' OFF THE BAR! Martinelli effort cannons off woodwork [LEV 0-0 ARS]
Follow the Champions League tonight
20:10 , Lawrence OstlereThat’s all from this game, but you can follow PSG v Chelsea right here, and Real Madrid v PSG here.
Match summary: Leverkusen 1-1 Arsenal
19:54 , Lawrence OstlereArsenal’s eight-game winning run in the Champions League came to an end as they needed an 89th-minute penalty from substitute Kai Havertz to rescue a 1–1 draw at Bayer Leverkusen in their last-16 first leg on Wednesday.
Former Leverkusen player Havertz converted the late spot-kick to cancel out Robert Andrich’s 46th-minute header for the hosts, marking the first time this season that quadruple-chasing Arsenal had fallen behind in Europe’s elite competition.
The Premier League leaders, who had won all eight of their previous matches to top the table after the league phase, were toothless in attack despite hitting the woodwork in a bright start and could not find a way back into the game until their late penalty, awarded for a foul on Noni Madueke.
The two sides will meet again in London for the return leg next Tuesday.
FULL-TIME! Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 Arsenal
19:39 , Chris WilsonThe referee blows the final whistle and it’s level at half-time of this tie!
Not a vintage Arsenal performance but they have the result to take back to London, while Leverkusen put in a spirited display and may well feel hard done by to not come out with a win.
Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 Arsenal
19:38 , Chris Wilson90 +3 mins
It’s a good delivery...but there’s some holding and an Arsenal player is penalised.
90 +2 mins
A late corner for Arsenal. Can they steal the win from right under the noses of the hosts?
Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 Arsenal
19:34 , Chris Wilson90 mins
A well-taken penalty from Havertz and Arsenal are right back in it. At this stage, you feel like they might just settle for the result.
We’re into the first of three minutes of added time.
GOAL! Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 Arsenal
19:33 , Chris Wilson89 mins
GOAL!
Havertz steps up against his old club – he’s calm and collected as he slides it right into the corner past Blaswich!
PENALTY! Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 Arsenal
19:31 , Chris Wilson87 mins
It’s given! Perhaps a little soft but Tillman definitely catches Madueke and once it’s given, those can’t be reversed.
Havertz will step up to take it!
Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 Arsenal
19:30 , Chris Wilson86 mins
PENALTY! Finally something a little more direct from Arsenal, and they have a penalty for it!
Madueke skips in between the two defenders and he bursts into the box, and he’s clipped by Tillman!
It’ll go to a VAR check but the on-field call was a penalty.
Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 Arsenal
19:28 , Chris Wilson84 mins
CLOSE! Arsenal go up the other end and Martinelli hangs up another good cross. Timber is there to meet it just a few yards out but he can only direct his header over the bar!
Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 Arsenal
19:27 , Chris Wilson84 mins
Another free-kick in a dangerous area for Leverkusen. Can they make something of another set-piece?
Garcia’s ball in looks like a tempting one but it has a little too much on it and nobody is there at the back post.
Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 Arsenal
19:26 , Chris Wilson82 mins
Changes for both sides as Gabriel Jesus replaces Eze for Arsenal.
Leverkusen take off Terrier and Palacios for Fernandez and Hofmann.
Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 Arsenal
19:25 , Chris Wilson81 mins
Another great delivery from Rice on the free-kick from deep, but again it falls kindly for the home defenders.
The hosts almost break as space opens up on the right for Poku, but the pass doesn’t have enough on it!
Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 Arsenal
19:24 , Chris Wilson79 mins
A bit more encouraging from Arsenal as they win a corner down the right.
It’s cleared but the visitors win the ball back almost instantly before Martinelli sees his cross headed away.
The Gunners win it back almost immediately once again though, and Terrier is penalised for a cynical foul on Zubimendi.
Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 Arsenal
19:22 , Chris Wilson76 mins
Another promising opening for Leverkusen. They cut out Timber’s through ball and go on the counter, Kofane racing into the Arsenal half and skipping past a few challenges before laying off a pass that is then blasted miles wide by Garcia!
Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 Arsenal
19:18 , Chris Wilson73 mins
Madueke has been bright since coming on, linking well with Timber and looking to make something happen.
The latter aims a cross from deep but Blaswich collects it easily.
Both sides make changes, with former Leverkusen player Kai Havertz replacing Gyokeres, and Malik Tillman coming on for Maza for the hosts.
Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 Arsenal
19:16 , Chris Wilson70 mins
Another lull in activity here as the Gunners search for an equaliser.
The visitors are enjoying plenty of the ball but once again Leverkusen are happy to sit back and see what Arsenal can throw at them.
Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 Arsenal
19:12 , Chris Wilson67 mins
Leverkusen have had a couple of openings that briefly looked promising before coming to nothing, though they aren’t committing many men forward at present.
Kofane has repeatedly been great when isolated against Saliba and Gabriel, and he does well again before a cross from Maza is eventually cleared.
Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 Arsenal
19:09 , Chris Wilson64 mins
Almost a heart-in-mouth moment for Arsenal fans as Raya comes almost to the halfway line to clear, but it was a good decision in the end!
Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 Arsenal
19:08 , Chris Wilson63 mins
Better again from Arsenal, Martinelli beating his man on the outside before hanging up a cross to the back post.
It’s headed back towards Gyokeres but it’s taken off the striker’s foot at the last.
Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 Arsenal
19:07 , Chris WilsonArsenal just beginning to get into the ascendancy here, with Leverkusen forced into more defending over the last few minutes.
Palacios is now in the book for the German side.
Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 Arsenal
19:04 , Chris Wilson58 mins
Half a chance from the free-kick as an Arsenal player connects with the header, but it’s harmlessly wide.
Arsenal make the first sub of the day as Saka makes way for Madueke.
Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 Arsenal
19:01 , Chris Wilson56 mins
A yellow card for Poku here as he slides in and brings down Martinelli on the wing, near the edge of the box.
Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 Arsenal
18:58 , Chris Wilson53 mins
Leverkusen are still looking threatening but Arsenal are beginning to wrestle back control in possession. Those chances still aren’t coming yet though.
Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 Arsenal
18:55 , Chris Wilson49 mins
Arsenal were caught napping to begin the half, and now they have some work to do if they want to take a result back to the Emirates. Leverkusne are already looking far more comfortable at the start of this half.
GOAL! Bayer Leverkusen 1-0 Arsenal
18:52 , Chris Wilson47 mins
GOAL! Leverkusen have the opener and of course it’s from a corner!
The ball is whipped in from the right and Robert Andrich shakes off his marker and arrives at the far post to power a header past Raya!
Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 Arsenal
18:50 , Chris Wilson46 mins
SAVE! A great move from Leverkusen to start the half!
It comes straight from kick-off too, with the hosts working the ball across to Grimaldo before he clips in a lovely cross.
Maza heads it goalwards and Raya is there to make a great stop, tipping it over the bar!
KICK-OFF! Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 Arsenal
18:49 , Chris WilsonBack underway at the BayArena! Hopefully this second half has a bit more action.
HALF-TIME! Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 Arsenal
18:47 , Chris WilsonTeams in the tunnel again so we’ll be underway once more soon enough.
HALF-TIME! Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 Arsenal
18:43 , Chris WilsonNot necessarily a bad half for Arsenal, but they just need to do a bit more in attack if they want to break the deadlock.
They’ve been in control for a lot of that half, but they didn’t quite have the invention in the final third once again.
At the other end, they’ve probably been allowing too many openings for Kofane and co. but there’s been little to worry about for the visitors overall.
Nevertheless, Leverkusen will feel like they can take something from this game.
HALF-TIME! Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 Arsenal
18:38 , Chris Wilson
HALF-TIME! Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 Arsenal
18:33 , Chris WilsonThe referee brings the first half to an end and the two sides go in level at the break.
Not the most entertaining half, though both sides have had chances and overall it’s probably a deserved scoreline at half-time.
Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 Arsenal
18:32 , Chris Wilson45 mins
Some defending to do for Arsenal late on here as Kofane has a shot blocked before Raya is forced to punch away a cross.
Into the first of two minutes of added time here.
Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 Arsenal
18:30 , Chris Wilson44 mins
A bit of frustration creeping in for the Gunners, with Saka throwing his arms up in the air after Zubimendi neglects to pass to him despite the England man being in plenty of space.
Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 Arsenal
18:28 , Chris Wilson41 mins
The story of the half for Arsenal in attack as a couple of clever passes see the ball spread to Martinelli on the wing, before he attempts a cross with the outside of his foot that is just nowhere near a teammate.
Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 Arsenal
18:26 , Chris Wilson39 mins
A couple of decent interventions, first from Zubimendi and then Gyokeres, but the latter’s cross is intercepted.
Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 Arsenal
18:24 , Chris Wilson36 mins
Not a great game for the neutral at the moment, this one. Arsenal have been in control for large parts but Arteta will be irritated with the lack of chance creation and some of the openings they’ve given up.
Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 Arsenal
18:19 , Chris Wilson33 mins
Very close to an opening for the Gunners as the ball breaks kindly and Gyokeres is almost sent clean through with a through ball, but it’s intercepted at the last.
Moments later, there’s a break in play as Garcia is down after a challenge from Gabriel.
Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 Arsenal
18:17 , Chris Wilson31 mins
Kofane has certainly been a bright spark for Leverkusen, with the striker now dropping off well before winning the ball off Rice near the edge of the box. The chance goes begging though as Garcia’s cross has far too much on it.
Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 Arsenal
18:16 , Chris Wilson28 mins
Arsenal briefly threatened to pile on the pressure after that Martinelli effort but once again it’s been too pedestrian in attack.
The gunners have been the better of the two sides but they have little to show for it at the moment.
Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 Arsenal
18:12 , Chris Wilson26 mins
Gabriel is okay to carry on.
Martinelli does poorly to lose the ball in midfield and is then yellow carded for stopping the counter-attack.
Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 Arsenal
18:08 , Chris Wilson23 mins
A break in play here as Gabriel is down after blocking a venomous effort from Quansah with his face.
Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 Arsenal
18:08 , Chris Wilson20 mins
OFF THE BAR! Oh, what a chance!
Out of nowhere, the Gunners put a lovely move together. A pass into the area is dummied by Eze before Gyokeres shifts it across to Martinelli, who takes a touch wide and blasts a shot that cannons back off the bar!
Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 Arsenal
18:04 , Chris Wilson18 mins
Just a couple of reminders for Arsenal over the last few minutes, but they’ve barely been troubled in truth.
Nevertheless, they’ve done little to trouble the home defence either so far.
Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 Arsenal
18:01 , Chris Wilson15 mins
Another half-chance for Leverkusen as Kofane gets onto the end of the through ball into the box. He lays it off behind him but the shot is wild and flies wide and over.
Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 Arsenal
17:59 , Chris Wilson13 mins
Arsenal have settled into possession now, and they’re beginning to dominate proceedings. The hosts haver barely had the ball in the last few minutes.
They do almost launch a counter led by Kofane, but he’s alone against three Arsenal defenders and Rice and co. cover it well.
Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 Arsenal
17:57 , Chris Wilson11 mins
Patient build-up from Arsenal so far, but no clear-cut chances for the Gunners.
Leverkusen are happy to put men behind the ball when the visitors are in possession.
Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 Arsenal
17:54 , Chris Wilson8 mins
The first real sight of goal is Leverkusen’s, Kofane forcing a save as he blasts an effort too close to Raya.
At the other end, an Arsenal counter comes to nothing as Saka is overstretched and loses the ball.
Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 Arsenal
17:52 , Chris Wilson6 mins
Andrich is extremely lucky to still be on the pitch as he cynically stops Gyokeres near the touchline. The referee appears to tell him that’s his last warning.
Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 Arsenal
17:49 , Chris Wilson4 mins
Saka lines up the set-piece, 20-odd yards out on the right-hand side of the box. He fires in a low diagonal ball across the penalty box but it takes a touch off Hincapie and flies wide.
Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 Arsenal
17:48 , Chris Wilson2 mins
Arsenal have started on the front foot and it pays off early on as some good hold-up play on the edge of the box from Gyokeres wins them a free-kick. Andrich is booked for his efforts, and it’s the first yellow card after just two minutes!
KICK-OFF! Bayer Leverkusen 0-0 Arsenal
17:46 , Chris WilsonThe visitors get us started at the BayArena! Can Arsenal get a comfortable win ahead of an important string of upcoming games?
Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal live
17:43 , Chris WilsonBoth sides are emerging from the tunnel at the BayArena, so we’ll be underway soon in Leverkusen!
Arteta: 'We have to dominate territory'
17:38 , Chris WilsonHere’s what Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta had to say ahead of kick-off:
“They have a lot of resources to cause problems, they’re well-organised,” he explains on the opposition.
He adds that he uses the time ahead of kickoff for “the final words, the intentions, where the opportunities are”.
“We have to win duels, start to dominate territory and possession,” he explains.
He adds that Leandro Trossard “wasn’t feeling quite right” ahead of the game.
Match stats
17:30 , Chris WilsonLeverkusen are unbeaten in their last three UEFA Champions League games (W2 D1), keeping a clean sheet in all three.
However, Arsenal are the only team who haven’t trailed at any point in the UEFA Champions League this season.
Tonight's other Champions League
17:25 , Chris WilsonFans have plenty more to look forward to tonight, with the following fixtures all kicking off at 8pm GMT:
PSG vs Chelsea
Real Madrid vs Man City
Bodo/Glimt vs Sporting CP
Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal live
17:17 , Chris Wilson
Match stats
17:10 , Chris WilsonAll five of Arsenal's Champions League knockout ties against German teams have come against Bayern Munich. The Gunners have gone out on every occasion – in the last 16 in 2004/05, 2012/13, 2013/14 and 2016/17, and in the 2023/24 quarter-finals.
Head-to-head
17:05 , Chris WilsonArsenal's only previous European meetings with Bayer Leverkusen came in the second group stage in 2001/02, where the Gunners drew 1-1 away before winning 4-1 at Highbury.
The Champions League has eroded the soul of European football – here’s how to fix it
16:55 , Chris WilsonWhen the draw for the Champions League last 16 was made, there were at least a few Uefa figures who winced. That was because they were anticipating reactions like that of Pep Guardiola, who rightly said it was “a little bit weird” that Manchester City and Real Madrid were facing each other for the fifth consecutive season and sixth occasion in seven years. Some in Uefa counter that comes from the clear logic of the new seeding system, that the clubs voted for.
But what else is likely to happen when it’s mostly the same teams all the time? And now, increasingly, when it’s teams from the same country all the time?
The Champions League has eroded the soul of European football – here’s how to fix it
Team news
16:45 , Chris WilsonLeverkusen boss Kasper Hjulmand has made just one change to the starting XI that drew 3-3 to Freiburg last week, with Exequiel Palacios replacing Equi Fernández in central midfield.
Young Cameroon striker Christian Kofane – who impressed at Afcon earlier this year – leads the line, with Ibrahim Maza and Martin Terrier in support.
Line-ups
16:39 , Chris WilsonLeverkusen XI: Blaswich; Andrich, Quansah, Tapsoba; Poku, Garcia, Palacios, Grimaldo; Maza, Kofane, Terrier.
Subs: Omlin, Lomb, Fernandez, Hofmann, Tillman, Schick, Oermann, Tape, Culbreath.
Our starters against Arsenal this evening! 🎶🖤❤️#B04ARS pic.twitter.com/utHIley70J
— Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) March 11, 2026
Team news
16:37 , Chris WilsonMikel Arteta has made 10 changes to the side that beat Mansfield Town, with only Gabriel Martinelli keeping his place in the side. David Raya returns in goal, with William Saliba returning to the side in defence alongside Gabriel.
In midfield, Declan Rice comes back alongside Ebere Eze and Martin Zubimendi, while Viktor Gyokeres leads the line supported by Bukayo Saka and Martinelli.
Line-ups
16:31 , Chris WilsonArsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice, Eze; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli.
Subs: Kepa, Ranson, Mosquera, White, Jesus, Norgaard, Madueke, Havertz, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman, Salmon.
🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) March 11, 2026
🔙 Saliba returns
🕰️ Eze keeping things ticking
©️ Saka with the armband
Let's seize the moment, Gunners ✊
Team news
16:25 , Chris WilsonThe line-ups should be released in the next five minutes or so, so here’s a reminder of the early team news for both sides...
Leverkusen are without a number of players including Mark Flekken, Loic Bade, Lucas Vazquez and Patrik Schick.
Arsenal travel to Leverkusen with manager Arteta confirming that centre-back William Saliba is fit to feature, while captain Martin Odegaard has been ruled out of the first leg.
Saliba, who missed Arsenal’s last two matches in all competitions with an ankle injury, returns to bolster a defence that is otherwise at full strength. However, Odegaard’s absence leaves Arsenal without their main creative hub in midfield.
Arteta added that Riccardo Calafiori and Leandro Trossard “are a possibility — we will see,” while Gabriel Magalhaes, Declan Rice and Martín Zubimendi are all available.
Match stats
16:15 , Chris WilsonLeverkusen have progressed from four of their five major European knockout ties against English clubs, failing only against Liverpool in 2004/05 in the Champions League.
Arsenal's only previous European meetings with Bayer Leverkusen came in the second group stage in 2001-02, drawing 1-1 away and winning 4-1 at Highbury.
Wayne Rooney defends Arsenal’s tactics as he sends message to Mikel Arteta on dealing with critics
16:05 , Chris WilsonWayne Rooney has urged Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta to disregard what he perceives as "very unfair" criticism directed at the Premier League leaders' playing style.
The Gunners, currently seven points clear at the top of the table – albeit with Manchester City holding a game in hand – are also in contention for a quadruple after reaching the FA Cup quarter-finals with a 2-1 victory over Mansfield on Saturday.
Arsenal's tactical approach has recently drawn fire from various figures within football.
Rooney defends Arsenal’s tactics and sends message to Arteta
Kai Havertz admits recent injuries have been toughest challenge of his career
15:55 , Chris WilsonKai Havertz admits the injuries he has suffered over the last two seasons have been the toughest challenge of his career.
The Arsenal forward required surgery on a serious hamstring injury last term, and then needed a knee operation earlier this season.
Now fit again, Havertz is preparing to take on his former club Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League last 16, with the first leg in Germany on Wednesday night.
Kai Havertz admits recent injuries have been toughest challenge of his career
When is Leverkusen v Arsenal?
15:42 , Chris WilsonThe first leg of the Champions League last-16 tie takes place at the BayArena at 5.45pm GMT.
TV channel and how to watch online
Leverkusen v Arsenal will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 3. Subscribers can stream the game online via the TNT Sports website and Discovery+ app.
Prediction
15:37 , Chris WilsonLeverkusen have pulled off some impressive results in the Champions League, and they will give Arsenal a stiff test tonight. But Mikel Arteta’s side have been a cut above the rest of Europe all season, especially defensively, and they can bring a result back to the Emirates for the second leg. Leverkusen 1-1 Arsenal.
Predicted line-ups
15:32 , Chris WilsonLeverkusen XI: Blaswich; Andrich, Quansah, Tapsoba; Poku, Garcia, Fernandez, Grimaldo; Maza, Kofane, Terrier.
Arsenal XI: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice, Eze; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli.
Team news
15:27 , Chris WilsonArsenal travel to Leverkusen with manager Arteta confirming that centre-back William Saliba is fit to feature, while captain Martin Odegaard has been ruled out of the first leg.
Saliba, who missed Arsenal’s last two matches in all competitions with an ankle injury, returns to bolster a defence that is otherwise at full strength. However, Odegaard’s absence leaves Arsenal without their main creative hub in midfield.
Arteta added that Riccardo Calafiori and Leandro Trossard “are a possibility — we will see,” while Gabriel Magalhaes, Declan Rice and Martín Zubimendi are all available.
Team news
15:23 , Chris WilsonLeverkusen are without a number of players including Mark Flekken, Loic Bade, Lucas Vazquez and Patrik Schick.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal live
15:20 , Chris WilsonArsenal take on Bayer Leverkusen tonight in the last-16 of the Champions League as the Gunners continue their assault on four trophies.
The Premier League leaders are through to the final of the Carabao Cup, where they will meet Manchester City, and they face Southampton in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
But first is the challenge of Leverkusen, who have fallen away since their title-winning exploits under Xavi Alonso, having sold stars such as Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong.
Now led by the former Denmark manager Kasper Hjulmand, Leverkusen are sixth in the Bundesliga. They finished 16th in the Champions League group phase, picking up impressing away wins at Manchester City and Benfica, while also losing 7-2 to PSG.
Leverkusen beat Olympiacos 2-0 in the play-offs to reach the round of 16.
Good afternoon
15:15 , Chris WilsonHello and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of today’s Champions League match between Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen.
The Gunners travel to Germany hoping to put one foot in the quarter-finals as they continue their bid for an unprecedented quadruple, while the Bundesliga side hope to cause an upset with a first-leg win at the BayArena.
We’ll have all the latest build-up, team news and updates right here.
