Arsenal 2-0 Bayer Leverkusen [3-1 agg]: Eze rocket inspires Gunners to reach Champions League quarters | OneFootball

A ridiculous half-volley from Eberechi Eze inspired Arsenal to a 2-0 win against Bayer Leverkusen in the second leg of their round of 16 tie, winning 3-1 on aggregate to progress to the Champions League quarter finals.

Eze broke the deadlock with an absolute rocket of a half-volley that seemed the only way to get past an otherwise imperious Janis Blaswich, who was kept busy and made six saves to keep out the first-half siege from Trossard and Bukayo Saka.

Declan Rice doubled the Gunners’ advantage minutes after the hour mark with a calm finish into the bottom right, leaving little chance of a comeback as the hosts eventually cruised to their third Champions League quarter final in as many seasons.

As it happened

A tight first 10 minutes with little to separate the sides saw William Saliba emphatically head away a looping cross in towards 19-year-old striker Christian Kofane, before he rose to head Saka’s corner on the right over at the near post.

Moments after seeing his first effort of the game roll harmlessly wide, Leandro Trossard produced a fantastic save from Janus Blaswich with a rifled shot that seemed destined for the top left corner, doing well to shift the ball onto his right foot.

Then came a first chance for Gabriel to head in another Saka corner on 21 minutes, but he couldn’t quite direct it on target.

Leverkusen were nearly masters of their own downfall when Jarrell Quansah handballed on the left edge of the penalty area to block Piero Hincapié’s cross, but 34-year-old Blaswich was on hand to beat Declan Rice’s effort on goal clear of trouble.

The visitors were a threat on the counter-attack and got into the Arsenal penalty area after an incisive one-two between left wing-back Grimaldo and Ibrahim Maza in the left channel, but Hincapié was across in an instant to smother it behind.

It seemed as though it would take something special to beat Blaswich after Saka took advantage of a mix up in Leverkusen’s left back position and saw his shot palmed wide by the German, and it would come six minutes after the half-hour mark.

Eze, presented with a clipped pass from Trossard out wide after Leverkusen lost the ball, deftly cushioned the ball, spun, and struck a rasping half-volley into the top left corner from 25 yards, sending the incredulous Emirates crowd into a frenzy.

The former Crystal Palace man hadn’t managed to find the net in the Champions League leading up to a moment of absolute inspiration, one that seemed to leave Mikel Arteta’s men possessed – snapping forward whenever they regained the ball.

Blaswich had pulled off yet another great stop and survived a melee right in front of goal that ensued from Trossard’s low drive, but he was powerless to stop an effort of that quality.

After Leverkusen let a clearance slip back into Arsenal’s hands once more, the German side’s hero of the first half standing between the sticks was rooted in place as Rice caressed the ball into the bottom right corner, having done well to control the bouncing ball.

Substitute Kai Havertz thought for a moment that he had put the result beyond doubt tapping in a cut-back across goal, but referee Danny Makkelie ruled it out for the final touch coming off of his hand clenched to Malik Tillman’s shirt.

David Raya was called into action to make a rare yet brilliant stop with his right glove to keep out Kofane and deny Leverkusen a much needed lifeline, with their hopes of taking the game to extra time fading fast.

Any leverage on the game Leverkusen had in the first-half had petered out, and Arsenal cruised through the latter stages to keep their dream of a first Champions League trophy alive at the expense of Kasper Hjulmand’s team.

Arsenal analysis: Inspiration Eze stamps authority on number 10 position

Messi, Modric, Maradonna, Zidane. These are just a few of the best names in football to have worn the number 10 shirt, ones that would have looked back on the strike that put Arsenal in command of the tie for the first time as one of their very best, if it was.

The man wearing the shirt number that many would associate with some of the world’s brightest talents, starts for Eberechi Eze hadn’t been a guarantee throughout the Premier League season.

Starting 17 out of 26 matches he’s featured in so far this season, and Arteta seen experimenting with Bukayo Saka in his position instead against the likes of Wolves, this evening was an important chance for Eze to leave his manager no option whatsoever.

And what a way to do it, having the sheer audacity to try and unleash a piledriver into the top left – and it came at the perfect time for Mikel Arteta. Come 36 minutes, the hosts had accumulated just over a goal in xG and had no way past the veteran Janis Blaswich.

Eze’s phenomenal half-volley, on the other hand, had an xG of 0.02. By the numbers, it almost had no right to go in. And yet, it could’ve taken the net off.

The hosts had been fairly slow and trepidatory in their play for spells during the first half, but any frustration in the home stands was dispelled, and Eze’s teammates were breaking forward with every chance they had.

On such an important night for the Gunners, who are still in contention to win all three domestic titles and the Champions League, Eze made a serious case for why he should be the first name that comes to Arteta’s mind when deciding who to put in the number 10.

Declan Rice would then take inspiration from his fellow England international in the second half, doing well to collect a bouncing loose ball and having just as much composure to roll the ball calmly into the corner of the net.

For a side that has drawn a lot of criticism for their game being dull or even ‘ugly’ to some, the 27-year-old produced a moment far more than the 60,000 present to see it would’ve paid a hefty price to witness, and it helped take his team to new heights tonight.