Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen LIVE: Champions League match stream, latest team news, lineups, TV, prediction | OneFootball

Gunners aiming to seal quarter-final spot after last-gasp draw in Germany

Big night ahead: Arsenal take on Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League

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Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen LIVE!

Arsenal will look to book their place in the Champions League quarter-finals as they host Bayer Leverkusen tonight. The last-16 tie is level at 1-1 after last week’s tense first leg in Germany, where Kai Havertz came off the bench to score a late penalty against his former club and cancel out Robert Andrich’s early second-half header. It was a below-par performance from the Gunners, who fell behind in the competition for the first time this season.

But Mikel Arteta’s side will be strong favourites to advance on home soil and secure a last-eight clash with either Bodo/Glimt or Sporting, having broken down stubborn Everton late on Saturday to extend their Premier League title advantage to nine points as teenager Max Dowman continued to shine. Arsenal remain in contention for four major trophies during what could be a very special finale to the season, though are without Jurrien Timber and Martin Odegaard this evening due to injury.

Leverkusen head to the Emirates Stadium after drawing with nine-man Bayern Munich in a dramatic contest in the Bundesliga, where they currently sit sixth under Kasper Hjulmand. Follow Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen live below!

Live updates

15 seconds ago

Lineups on the way

The official teamsheets are about to drop at the Emirates.

Stay tuned...

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6 minutes ago

Arteta's plan to stop fatigue derailing Arsenal quadruple dream

Until Arsenal struck late to snatch all three points against Everton, the most entertaining action in the second half came primarily on the touchline, writes Matt Verri.

This was Mikel Arteta at his most animated, winding back the clock to the final months of the 2022-23 season when the pressure of a title race was all new to him and his players.

The Spaniard has been battle-hardened since then, this now his fourth title run-in, and the emotion this time felt more calculated.

The cue came with about 10 minutes to go against Everton, when Arteta took off his coat and marched back to his seat.

From that point on, the Spaniard was at boiling point.

Read the article in full here

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13 minutes ago

Arteta: Phenomenal Dowman 'inspiring' Arsenal in trophy hunt

Mikel Arteta and Riccardo Calafiori were both effusive in their praise of Max Dowman as they addressed the media yesterday ahead of tonight’s Champions League showdown.

"The first time that you see him on the pitch, you're quite curious about him. He's so young but at the same time so mature on the pitch," Calafiori said.

"He can improve so many things but he's a talent, as you can see. But at the same time we have to leave him quiet and don't speak about him too much because he has everything.

"For sure we try to give him some advice but for the moment he's doing well even without our advice."

Arteta said: “It's very inspiring when you see someone, almost naive, making decisions and flowing and careless playing in that manner, in that context. It's great,

"And I think probably our players realised as well. It's a good example, playing with that flow and enthusiasm is actually very beneficial for the team.

"I didn't expect that kind of goal, that's for sure, but his attitude and his decision making, yes. If not, I wouldn't have made the decision to play him.

John Walton/PA Wire

"But then to be that precise and deliver the moment that he delivered, that's something difficult to imagine.

"I think they have to cook at the optimal speed in relation to what they need and what they demand.

"He is knocking on the door at 16, saying 'I am good enough and I can impact this team whenever it is needed'. And he is doing it when he is playing.

"We just need to bring the temperature down and understand what is the best thing for this boy at his age.

"He's doing something phenomenal. We all know that. Let's keep it down a little bit and respect his nature to do what he has to do, which I'm sure is going to be something really good."

24 minutes ago

Dazzling Dowman 'ready' for regular Arsenal role

How big a part will Max Dowman play for Arsenal tonight?

He was an unused substitute in Leverkusen last week after making more history in the FA Cup fifth-round win at Mansfield, but came off the bench to play a part in Viktor Gyokeres’ crucial late goal against Everton before netting himself in stoppage time - becoming the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history aged 16 years and 73 days.

Arsenal fans understandably want to see plenty more of the teenage prodigy as they compete for four major trophies during a hectic season finale, though the likes of Wayne Rooney have warned this week that Dowman’s education will likely come first as he prepares to sit his GCSEs.

Asked yesterday if Dowman - already the youngest player ever to feature in the Champions League - was ready to play regularly after recovering from an ankle injury, Mikel Arteta said: “Yeah regularly. Depending on what you call regularly.

"Depending on the game and how he reacts - I think his reaction has been really positive and in relation to what we need in the game.

"To do what he did in such a moment, it's very rare to see, or impossible almost.

“He's done it and now it's football and what you've done a few days ago is not relevant any more, it's about the next one."

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33 minutes ago

Will Odegaard and Timber be fit for Carabao Cup final?

Here’s how Mikel Arteta responded at yesterday’s pre-Leverkusen press conference when asked if Martin Odegaard and Jurrien Timber could yet be fit to face Manchester City in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final at Wembley.

"We are really pushing him [Odegaard]," Arteta said.

"He really wants to try to be available but we'll have to wait and see how he feels over the next few days when he trains with the team.

"We know the game that we're going to be playing in a few days again and the more players that we have the better.

"We don't know [on Timber]. I think with him it will be a matter of days, but we're not sure."

Odegaard writes in his programme notes tonight: “I’m working hard to be back as soon as I can and I’m feeling stronger all the time.”

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43 minutes ago

Arteta facing Arsenal selection dilemmas

It will be intriguing to see how Mikel Arteta approaches his Arsenal team selection tonight, particularly with the Carabao Cup final to come on Sunday.

No Jurrien Timber means it will be either Cristhian Mosquera or Ben White at right-back, with the former having been preferred off the bench against Everton.

Will the more attacking Riccardo Calafiori keep his place at left-back over Leverkusen loanee Piero Hincapie?

It seems likely that Kai Havertz will make way for Viktor Gyokeres up top, but will it be Eberechi Eze still at No10 with no Martin Odegaard once more?

And how big a role will Max Dowman play after his dazzling return from injury?

Decisions, decisions.

Here’s how Standard Sport’s Arsenal correspondent Matt Verri thinks Arsenal will line up this evening, with Mosquera, the fit-again Leandro Trossard and Gyokeres replacing Timber, Noni Madueke and Havertz.

Predicted Arsenal XI (4-2-3-1): Raya; Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori; Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Eze, Trossard; Gyokeres

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52 minutes ago

Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen prediction

Bayer Leverkusen had their chance to take a lead to north London, but had it snatched from them at the death last week with a stoppage-time penalty.

They will have their work cut out to overcome the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium, especially after the 2-0 win over Everton, which will have the Premier League leaders in good spirits.

Arsenal to win, 3-0.

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57 minutes ago

Bayer Leverkusen team news

Bayer Leverkusen have a rather lengthy injury list and are likely to remain without all of Mark Flekken, Loic Bade, Lucas Vazquez and Arthur tonight.

Martin Terrier and Aleix Garcia are expected to shrug off knocks suffered in Saturday’s incident-packed 1-1 home Bundesliga draw with Bayern Munich, in which they had three goals disallowed by VAR and saw their visitors finish the game with nine men.

Eliesse Ben Seghir is back in training and Alejandro Grimaldo comes back into contention amid a domestic suspension.

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1 hour ago

Arsenal team news

Arsenal are without Jurrien Timber tonight after the versatile Dutch defender was forced off with an ankle issue in the first half of Saturday’s dramatic late 2-0 home win over Everton in the Premier League.

The Gunners are still missing influential captain Martin Odegaard due to a lingering knee complaint, with Mikel Arteta hoping that both players could yet be fit to face Manchester City in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final at Wembley.

However, Leandro Trossard is back after a minor knock picked up in the FA Cup win at Mansfield that ruled him out against Everton and the first leg in Leverkusen.

16-year-old sensation Max Dowman will be pushing for a maiden Champions League start after his weekend heroics, though Mikel Merino remains a long-term absentee after undergoing surgery on a rare and serious foot injury.

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