Arsenal’s Champions League 100% record ended in a 2-2 draw at Bayer Leverkusen, with the Gunners undone by a set-piece of their own making.
Leverkusen took the lead from a corner, with captain Robert Andrich free at the back post to nod in Alex Grimaldo’s delivery. Arsenal’s set-piece coach, Nicolas Jover, jokingly remarked to Leverkusen manager Kasper Hjulmand, “You do it too, eh?”
It was the first time Arsenal trailed in this season’s Champions League. The German side had nearly scored seconds earlier from a kick-off routine, with David Raya tipping Martin Terrier’s header over.
Kai Havertz, formerly of Leverkusen, came off the bench to convert an 89th-minute penalty after Noni Madueke was brought down in the box, securing the draw.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta was disappointed to concede from a set-piece, especially given Arsenal’s own strength in such situations. Before the match, they had allowed only 11 goals from set-pieces across all competitions, level with Manchester City.
Arteta said, “We showed them three clips of Leverkusen’s routines, and we weren’t ready. That’s on us. We knew the threats, but we got caught.”
Despite going behind, Arsenal dominated the first half. Gabriel Martinelli hit the crossbar, and Arteta substituted captain Bukayo Saka after a below-par performance. Noni Madueke, who replaced Saka, earned the penalty that allowed Havertz to level the score.
Madueke reflected on the moment: “Coming on when your team is losing gives you extra impetus to change the game. I felt contact, went down, and it was a penalty. Havertz showed great composure to score.”
Arteta praised Madueke’s bravery, adding, “He’s a real threat. To have a player step in and make an impact like that is big credit to him.”
Arsenal have avoided first-leg defeats in four of their last five knockout Champions League matches, progressing in two of those three ties. They remain in contention for four trophies this season, aiming for their first silverware since the 2020 FA Cup.
Arteta concluded, “Emotionally, we handled going behind well. We understand the game, and the execution will be better in the second leg. We’ll adapt and move on.”
