Arsenal continued their strong Champions League run by beating Bayer Leverkusen with little trouble, securing a third straight place in the quarter finals. After a lively first half in which Leverkusen goalkeeper Janis Blaswich repeatedly kept his side in the match, Eberechi Eze finally broke through before Declan Rice added another after the interval.
Mikel Arteta’s side once again looked sharp, controlled and confident in Europe. Their latest win means Arsenal now head into the next round with real belief and growing momentum.
Blaswich delayed Arsenal before Eze found the breakthrough
Leverkusen began with energy and confidence, encouraged by their recent draw with Bayern Munich and determined not to fade quietly. But once Arsenal settled, they quickly began to take control and created a steady flow of chances.
Blaswich was the main reason the visitors stayed level for so long. He denied Leandro Trossard, punched away a dangerous Rice free kick and reacted well again when Bukayo Saka and Ben White both came close. Gabriel Magalhães also missed a good chance from a corner as Arsenal kept pushing forward.
Leverkusen had their own brief moments, including a chance that Martin Terrier was unable to finish after a key defensive intervention. Still, most of the pressure came from Arsenal, and eventually it told. Eze brought the ball under control, turned in one motion and struck with power for his first Champions League goal, leaving the goalkeeper with no chance.
Rice finishes the job as Arsenal stay in control
Arsenal carried the same purpose into the second half and continued to look the stronger side. Trossard nearly added another with a curling effort, while Viktor Gyökeres also forced Blaswich into more work from distance.
Leverkusen tried to respond by introducing fresh attacking options, but Arsenal remained composed and rarely looked troubled. Their second goal arrived when the ball broke kindly for Rice, who stepped forward and drove his finish in off the post to effectively put the tie out of reach.
That goal allowed Arteta to rotate and manage the closing stages with comfort. David Raya still had to make an excellent late save to stop Christian Kofane, while Kai Havertz had a goal against his former club ruled out for handball.
Arsenal carry strong momentum into the next test
This latest European display underlined how effective Arsenal have become on this stage. They have now won nine of their ten Champions League matches this season and continue to combine control with cutting edge in key moments.
With a quarter final against Sporting now ahead and a Carabao Cup final against Manchester City coming on Sunday, Arsenal head into a crucial stretch in excellent shape. If they can maintain this level, hopes of ending their wait for silverware will only grow stronger.
