Arsenal face Bayer Leverkusen in Germany in the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie today.
Mikel Arteta’s side are looking to keep their hopes of multiple trophies alive, having progressed after an impressive unbeaten league phase.
The German club, meanwhile, are looking to upset one of the competition frontrunners with home advantage tonight.
Havertz Faces Former Club
Tonight is something of a homecoming for Kai Havertz, who could face his former club if he’s called upon from the bench.
He left Leverkusen for Chelsea in 2020 as one of the best young forwards in the world before making the switch to Arsenal in 2023.
In Mikel Arteta, Havertz now has a manager who rates him highly and understands the value he brings to a team.
Here’s what Arteta said about the German international back in February:
💬 “His main quality is that he makes you (as a team-mate) better somehow. The way he moves, communicates with you, gives you information and moves around. He’s a very difficult player to mark, and he opens up a lot of spaces for the rest of the players.”
Martinelli Chasing Henry’s Record
One more goal for Gabriel Martinelli and he will equal Thierry Henry’s Arsenal record of seven goals in a single Champions League campaign.
Not bad company to keep if he can get there.
Team Lineups
Here’s how Mikel Arteta’s visitors line up today.
Arsenal (4-2-3-1): Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Rice, Zubimendi; Eze, Saka, Martinelli; Gyokeres.
Unsurprisingly, 10 changes from the side that beat Mansfield 2-1 in the FA Cup on Saturday, with Gabriel Martinelli the only player to start both games.
Here’s who makes up the Arsenal bench.
Arsenal subs: Arrizabalaga (GK), Ranson (GK), White, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Mosquera, Salmon, Norgaard, Madueke, Dowman, Havertz, Jesus.
Riccardo Calafiori is deemed fit enough after picking up an injury against Mansfield, but no such luck for Leandro Trossard, who misses out.
The home side have just announced their team for tonight.
Bayer Leverkusen (3-4-2-1): Blaswich; Quansah, Andrich, Tapsoba; Poku, Palacios, Garcia, Grimaldo; Terrier, Maza; Kofane.
So just one change for the German side following their last outing against Freiburg on Saturday. Exequiel Palcios is in for Equi Fernandez in midfield.
Here’s who the home side can call upon from the bench.
Leverkusen subs: Omlin (GK), Lomb (GK), Fernandez, Hofmann, Tillman, Schick, Oermann, Tape, Culbreath.
The BayArena is looking pretty splendid ahead of kick-off, which is now less than an hour away.