Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen battled to a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League Round of 16 tie on Wednesday, March 11, 2026. The result marked the first time this season Arsenal hadn’t secured a win in the competition, having previously won all eight of their group stage matches.
A late penalty converted by Kai Havertz in the 89th minute salvaged a draw for the Gunners, after Robert Andrich had given Leverkusen the lead. The second leg is scheduled for next Tuesday.
Late Penalty Secures Draw for Arsenal
Leverkusen stifled Arsenal’s attack throughout much of the match, preventing the Premier League leaders from building any significant momentum and denying them any dangerous opportunities from set pieces. Gabriel Martinelli came closest to breaking the deadlock for Arsenal in the first half, hitting the crossbar in the 19th minute.
Immediately after halftime, Martin Terrier tested Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya with a header. From the ensuing corner kick, Bayer Leverkusen captain Robert Andrich headed home unchallenged at the far post in the 46th minute. Jurrien Timber had a chance to equalize for Arsenal in the 84th minute, but his header sailed over the bar.
The equalizer came when Noni Madueke went down in the penalty area following contact with Malik Tillman during a tackle. After a review by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), the decision to award a penalty stood. Havertz calmly converted the spot-kick, sending Janis Blaswich the wrong way, though he refrained from celebrating against his former club. The draw prevented Arsenal from suffering just their fourth defeat in 47 competitive matches this season.
