In a dramatic night at the BayArena, Arsenal managed to secure a tense draw against Bayer Leverkusen, and manager Mikel Arteta did not hesitate to demand a much stronger performance from his team for the crucial second leg of the Champions League round of 16, which will take place at the Emirates. After a promising start in the group stage, where they secured an impressive run of eight victories, the Gunners had to settle for a 1-1 draw, thanks to a penalty converted by Kai Havertz in the dying moments of the match.
Arteta’s frustration was palpable. He acknowledged the urgent need to improve the team’s execution ahead of the decisive clash. “I liked that emotionally we understood what we had to do, but the level of execution obviously needs to be better,” the coach stated. “And it will be better in the second leg. We will adapt some things and move forward.”
The first half of the match had a moment of near glory for Arsenal, when Gabriel Martinelli hit the crossbar, but the real twist came early in the second half. A header from Robert Andrich, which came from a corner kick, put the hosts ahead, punishing a defensive lapse that the Gunners know all too well, as they themselves have been lethal from set pieces this season.
“There are always two sides to this,” Arteta added, addressing the defensive shortcomings. “One is the opponent’s element, who exploited that weakness and the lack of attention or urgency in both situations. And the other is us, because we knew about it. We showed them three clips from last weekend in three different ways and we weren’t ready for it and got caught.”
The equalizer came from a controversial play, when Noni Madueke was brought down in the area by Malik Tillman. The penalty decision sparked debate, but VAR confirmed that Tillman had touched Madueke’s foot. Havertz, who returned to the club where he made history, did not hesitate to convert the penalty, providing a moment of redemption. “Football is a funny game and brings special stories,” Arteta smiled. “Him coming back here after such a long time, being part of this club, and scoring such an important goal, I think it’s a great moment.”
On the other hand, Bayer Leverkusen’s coach, Kasper Hjulmand, did not hide his dissatisfaction with the referee’s late decision. “I’m disappointed with the penalty at the end. I don’t see a penalty there, but that’s how it happened,” he stated. “Sometimes, the referee shouldn’t blow the whistle and then consult VAR. If he blows the whistle and it’s not clear and obvious, then it stands. For me, it simply wasn’t.”
As tensions rise, eyes now turn to the draw for the Champions League, which promises electrifying matchups in the quarter-finals. Arsenal will face Leverkusen again, and Arteta and his players know they will need to raise their game to progress in Europe’s most prestigious competition.
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