Three things learned from Arsenal vs Leverkusen as Arteta gamble pays off

Arsenal rescued a late draw against Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie, but the performance left several talking points for Mikel Arteta.

Kai Havertz’s 89th-minute penalty secured a 1-1 result at the BayArena, ensuring the Gunners remain in a strong position ahead of the decisive second leg in London.

Despite the positive outcome, Arsenal were far from their best during a difficult night in Germany.

Here are three key lessons from Arsenal’s draw with Bayer Leverkusen.

Arteta made a decisive call shortly before the hour mark when he replaced captain Bukayo Saka with Noni Madueke.

Saka had struggled to influence the game, repeatedly losing possession when Arsenal attempted to build attacks down the right flank.

Rather than waiting for the winger to produce a moment of magic, Arteta opted for a tactical change.

Madueke immediately added energy and directness to Arsenal’s attack.

His willingness to drive forward and challenge defenders eventually proved decisive late in the match.

It was Madueke’s run into the box that resulted in the penalty Havertz converted, ultimately rescuing the draw for the Gunners.

Arsenal’s set-piece threat has been one of their major strengths this season, but that advantage did not appear in Germany.

The visitors struggled to create danger from dead-ball situations and failed to win a corner during the first half.

Instead, it was Bayer Leverkusen who took advantage of a set-piece opportunity.

Early in the second half the Bundesliga side won a corner that caught Arsenal off guard, allowing Robert Andrich to head home at the back post.

Arsenal eventually won several corners later in the match, but none produced a clear opportunity.

The contrast highlighted a rare night where the Gunners were outperformed in an area that has typically worked strongly in their favour.

Arsenal welcomed William Saliba back from injury while Gabriel returned to the starting lineup after being rested in the previous match.

However, the defensive pair were given a serious challenge by Leverkusen’s young striker Christian Kofane.

The 19-year-old forward repeatedly troubled the Arsenal defence with his movement and physical presence.

Gabriel was forced into several recovery actions early in the game, including a desperate block after Kofane broke through on goal.

Saliba also struggled at times and received a warning from the referee after pulling the striker’s shirt during an aerial challenge.

The pair improved during the second half, although there were still moments of uncertainty as Arsenal attempted to manage Leverkusen’s counter-attacks.

The Champions League tie now moves to London for the second leg at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal will aim to take advantage of home support as they attempt to secure progression to the quarter-finals.

Before that, Arteta’s side must also focus on domestic commitments as the Premier League title race continues.