Arsenal look to book their place in the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday night as they host Bayer Leverkusen following a tense 1-1 draw in Germany.
The Gunners escaped the BayArena with their dignity intact last week thanks to Kai Havertz. The former Leverkusen man stayed cool to slot home an 89th-minute penalty after Robert Andrich had given the hosts the lead.
Since then, Mikel Arteta’s side have extended their lead at the top of the Premier League to nine points.
A historic 2-0 win over Everton on Saturday saw 16-year-old Max Dowman become the league’s youngest-ever scorer, further fueling the “quadruple” talk around the Emirates.
Kasper Hjulmand’s Leverkusen side remain a stubborn nut to crack, having drawn five of their last six matches. They recently held Bayern Munich to a 1-1 draw despite the champions playing with nine men at one stage.
While the German side proved they could hurt Arsenal from set-pieces in the first leg, they face a daunting task at a stadium where Arsenal have lost just once in their last 22 European outings.
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What are the best picks for Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen?
Back Arsenal to win and Over 2.5 Goals
Arsenal have turned the Emirates into a fortress, winning six successive home matches in all competitions. While Leverkusen are draw specialists, they must eventually open up to find a goal in London.
With Viktor Gyökeres likely returning to the starting lineup, Arsenal should have too much firepower for a Leverkusen defense missing Mark Flekken and Loïc Badé.
Viktor Gyökeres to score anytime
The Swedish striker was rested for a portion of the Everton game but still managed to find the net. He has been the focal point of Arteta’s attack this season and thrives on the service provided by Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli.
Against a Leverkusen backline that looked vulnerable to pace in the first leg, Gyökeres is the most likely candidate to break the deadlock.
Both Teams to Score (BTTS)
Leverkusen showed in the first leg that they can exploit Arsenal’s rare defensive lapses, particularly from dead-ball situations.
With Jurrien Timber ruled out and Martin Ødegaard still sidelined, the Gunners’ midfield structure is slightly less secure. Leverkusen have scored in nine of their last ten away games, making this a strong value play.
Where can I watch Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen?
USA viewers can stream this Champions League clash live on Paramount+ starting at 4:00 p.m. ET.
Supporters in the UK can catch the match live on TNT Sports 1. The game kicks off at 8:00 p.m. local time.
What is Arsenal’s current form?
W-D-W-W-W
What is Bayer Leverkusen’s current form?
D-D-D-W-D
What is Arsenal’s predicted team?
Raya; Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapié; Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Eze, Martinelli; Gyökeres
Injured: Jurrien Timber, Martin Ødegaard, Mikel Merino
Returns: Leandro Trossard
What is Bayer Leverkusen’s predicted team?
laswich; Quansah, Andrich, Tapsoba; Poku, Palacios, Garcia, Grimaldo; Tillman, Maza; Kofane
Injured: Mark Flekken, Loïc Badé, Lucas Vázquez
Doubtful: Martin Terrier, Aleix Garcia
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