Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen LIVE: Team news after Odegaard blow as Gunners face must-win match to keep Champions League dream alive | OneFootball

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Calafiori on his Scorpion Block and Defending "Our House"

Arsenal require nothing less than victory on the night against Bayer Leverkusen to book their place in the Champions League quarter-finals and keep their hopes of an unprecedented quadruple alive.

The Gunners were fortunate to leave the BayArena with their last-16 tie all square, with a contentious late penalty from former Leverkusen star Havertz cancelling out Robert Andrich’s opener just after half-time.

Mikel Arteta’s side remain in a strong position to progress but will need to prevent any slip-ups at home to avoid a shocking European exit.

Arsenal will be in high spirits off the back of the weekend, which saw 16-year-old Max Dowman become the youngest Premier League goalscorer ever as he inspired a potentially defining win over Everton to take the leaders nine points clear.

How Max Dowman galvanised Arsenal’s title charge – and what next for history-making teenager

As the Arsenal players got into an ecstatic dressing room, the man of the match wasn’t there. Goalscorer Viktor Gyokeres even came in carrying his award.

That is all because Max Dowman isn’t actually the man of the match but the boy of the match, since he’s still… just a child. Premier League rules mean he’s not actually allowed to change in the same dressing room as adults. He has to go around near the referees’ room.

Maybe it also serves as another little way to keep a mere 16-year-old centred after such a moment, too, but nobody who knows the Dowmans says he needs that. His parents are said to still ground him for misbehaving, and are conscious of keeping the obvious confidence that comes with such ability in check.

They were of course among many people at Arsenal in tears after Dowman scored that crucial clinching goal against Everton. As was openly being said in the dressing room by many staff, they’d known him since he was small. You might quip that wasn’t that long ago, but it also speaks to the speed of his development.

And here he was, at 16 years and 73 days, becoming the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history.

Miguel Delaney17 March 2026 18:20

Arsenal on a high

Things might have not gone exactly to plan in Leverkusen last week, but they enter their return leg on the highest of highs, off potentially sealing a first Premier League title in 22 years.

The weekend’s late win over Everton, inspired by 16-year-old Max Dowman, sent Arsenal nine points clear of Manchester City at the top, with that electrifying teenager becoming the youngest goalscorer in Premier League history.

Another big night at the Emirates tonight and Arsenal will stay on course for their quadruple.

Want to relive Saturday night to get in the mood? Here’s Miguel Delaney’s match report:

Max Dowman, a Premier League record and 22 minutes which changed the title race

Arsenal 2-0 Everton: The 16-year-old came off the bench to transform the game with a match-winning performance that kept the Gunners’ title bid firmly on track

Will Castle17 March 2026 18:00

Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen LIVE!

Arsenal require nothing less than victory on the night against Bayer Leverkusen to book their place in the Champions League quarter-finals and keep their hopes of an unprecedented quadruple alive.

The Gunners were fortunate to leave the BayArena with their last-16 tie all square, with a contentious late penalty from former Leverkusen star Havertz cancelling out Robert Andrich’s opener just after half-time.

Mikel Arteta’s side remain in a strong position to progress but will need to prevent any slip-ups at home to avoid a shocking European exit.

Arsenal will be in high spirits off the back of the weekend, which saw 16-year-old Max Dowman become the youngest Premier League goalscorer ever as he inspired a potentially defining win over Everton to take the leaders nine points clear.

Will Castle17 March 2026 17:00