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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Sport
Ed Aarons at BayArena

Havertz’s late penalty on return to Leverkusen rescues first-leg draw for Arsenal

Kai Havertz slots home from the penalty spot
Kai Havertz scores the equaliser from the penalty spot against his former club. Photograph: Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters

Whoever runs Bayer Leverkusen’s social media accounts obviously meant it as a joke. But even they could not have predicted that a cheeky post hours before kick‑off would almost end up being such a good omen for Kasper Hjulmand’s side. “No corners allowed,” it read in a clear dig at Arsenal’s favoured modus operandi this season, before adding. “Worth a try …”

Nonetheless, the plan seemed to be working for almost the entire cagey first half when neither side managed to muster a single corner until injury time. But everything changed at the start of the second half when Leverkusen’s captain, Robert Andrich, headed home their second corner of the evening. “Well, this is awkward,” the Leverkusen social media team piped up.

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