March 11, (THEWILL) — Kai Havertz returned to haunt Bayer Leverkusen, netting a stoppage-time penalty to earn Arsenal a 1-1 draw in the first leg of their UEFA Champions League last-16 tie, preventing his former club from carrying an advantage into the second leg at the Emirates Stadium.
Leverkusen made the brighter start, with Christian Kofane drawing a seventh-minute save from David Raya before Ibrahim Maza fired a left-footed attempt over the bar.
Arsenal threatened on the break in the 19th minute when Viktor Gyokeres played Gabriel Martinelli into space, but the Brazilian could only strike the woodwork with his weaker foot.
The hosts flew out of the blocks after the interval, and within 10 seconds of the restart, Martin Terrier directed a header goalward from a clever corner routine, only for Raya to tip it over.
From the resulting corner, Alejandro Grimaldo’s delivery to the back post was met by Robert Andrich, who ghosted beyond Eberechi Eze and Jurrien Timber to head Leverkusen in front.
Arsenal squandered a golden opportunity six minutes from time when an unmarked Timber headed over from close range.
The Gunners were handed a late lifeline, however, when Malik Tillman needlessly tripped the lively Noni Madueke inside the penalty area, and Havertz kept his composure to squeeze the spot kick past Janis Blaswich into the bottom-left corner in the 89th minute.
The result leaves the tie finely balanced ahead of the return fixture at the Emirates Stadium.
Leverkusen will lament their failure to hold on after taking the lead, while Arsenal will take considerable heart from snatching a draw in the closing stages.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
