Mikel Arteta’s key determination saves Arsenal as Gunners preserve their quadruple goals alive
Arsenal had to wait for an 88th minute penalty to save their skin during a frustrating evening in Germany against Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
There was talk about Arsenal being in the easy side of the draw, but Mikel Arteta has been left in no doubt there are no easy games at this stage of the Champions League – especially away from home.
The Gunners were sluggish for large spells during their trip to Germany to face Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday night, and it almost cost them. Arteta’s side needed a huge dose of luck to find an equaliser as their pursuit of an elusive quadruple took a hit.
Arsenal’s strength became their weakness, with Leverkusen capitalising from a corner after a blistering start to the second half.
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Defensively Leverkusen were a rock, they had been set up to force Arsenal out wide and resort to launching hopeful balls into the area. It was a frustrating evening, and to add to that, both Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli struggled in their one vs one battles.
Arteta had the chance to change this at half-time, work out a way to create an overload down one of the flanks – but, instead, his team sleepwalked into conceding the opener after a poor start to the second period.
Arsenal did begin to turn the screw once Saka was replaced by Noni Madueke – who had a bit more success against Alejandro Grimaldo when he partnered up with Jurrien Timber. However, they weren’t creating that one a golden-edged chance.
The Gunners have had a lot of success playing central defenders who have been converted in full-backs, but their key weakness was exposed on Wednesday. Once chasing the game there was creativity, and it was just hit and hope from the flanks.
Arteta reacted to this and brought on former Leverkusen hero Kai Havertz, but there just wasn’t enough creativity to unlock the wall that Leverkusen had built.
Madueke was the man to finally unlock the defence weaving inside and throwing himself to the ground, VAR and the on field referee deemed their was contact – replays were questionable – and Havertz levelled from the spot.
Gunners fans are expecting a trophy this season, and Arteta has them fighting on four fronts.
They will have their first shot at silverware later this month when they square of with Manchester City in the Carabao Cup – a match that could be a dress rehearsal for the FA Cup and the Champions League as they go toe-to-toe in the Prem.
