By Victor Okoye
By Victor OkoyeAbuja, March 18, 2026
Goals from Eberechi Eze and Declan Rice secured a comfortable victory for Arsenal FC over Bayern Leverkusen, sealing a quarter-final spot.
Arsenal advanced 3-1 on aggregate and will face Portugal’s Sporting CP, who staged a remarkable comeback to eliminate Bodo/Glimt.
The Gunners entered the tie level after Kai Havertz scored a late penalty in the first leg, earning a 1-1 draw against the German side.
Arsenal dominated early proceedings, with Gabriel Magalhães twice threatening from set-pieces, forcing fine saves from Leverkusen goalkeeper Janis Blaswich.
Eze broke the deadlock in the 36th minute, controlling superbly before unleashing a powerful half-volley into the net for his first Champions League goal.
Arsenal maintained momentum after the break, with Rice sealing victory in the 63rd minute, calmly finishing after latching onto a defensive clearance.
Manager Mikel Arteta rotated his squad later on, keeping key players fresh ahead of their clash with Manchester City.
The win provides a major confidence boost as Arsenal prepare for the Carabao Cup Final at Wembley Stadium.
Eze continues to impress in midfield amid the absence of captain Martin Ødegaard, with his form boosting Arsenal’s attacking options.
Arteta has transformed Arsenal since 2019, guiding the club to 14 wins in 17 home Champions League matches under his leadership.
The team, with only three defeats this season, now aim to convert strong performances into silverware across multiple competitions.
Arsenal face Manchester City in Sunday’s final, while Bayer Leverkusen return to league action against Heidenheim.
