Arsenal remain unbeaten against Bayer Leverkusen in the UEFA Champions League (W1 D2), with their one victory over them coming on the only occasion they have hosted the German side: 4-1 at Highbury in February 2002.
When avoiding defeat away from home in the first leg, Arsenal have progressed from 17 of their 20 two-legged knockout stage ties in major European competition. The latest of those eliminations did come under Mikel Arteta, however, losing on penalties to Sporting CP in the UEFA Europa League round of 16 in 2022-23 (drew 2-2 away, 1-1 at home – lost 3-5 in a shootout).
Bayer Leverkusen have lost eight of their 11 away games against English sides in the UEFA Champions League, but have won on two of their three most recent trips (L1), including a 2-0 win at Manchester City in the league phase this season.
Arsenal have won 13 of their 16 home games under Mikel Arteta in the UEFA Champions League (D2 L1), with their only defeat coming against last season’s semi-finals against eventual winners Paris SG (0-1 in April 2025). Indeed, Paris SG are the only visiting team who have kept a clean sheet across these 16 matches.
Bayer Leverkusen are looking to reach the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League for just the third time, and first since the 2001-02 edition when they finished as runners-up overall, losing to Real Madrid in the final (1997-98 the other season in which they reached the quarter-finals).
The only goal Bayer Leverkusen have conceded in their last four UEFA Champions League games was Kai Havertz’s penalty in the first leg last time out. They have never previously gone five consecutive games in the competition without conceding a non-penalty goal.
Bayer Leverkusen’s opener in the first leg was the 23rd opposition corner Arsenal had faced in the UEFA Champions League this season, and the first they have conceded from. Indeed, it was only the third time from the 23 corners that their opponent has managed a shot on the first attacking contact.
Declan Rice completed 96% of his passes in the first leg against Bayer Leverkusen (73/76); the highest completion rate by an Arsenal midfielder in a UEFA Champions League knockout stage game since Abou Diaby v FC Porto in March 2010 (98% – min. 50 attempted). Rice also made as many defensive line-breaking passes (2) as every other Arsenal player combined in the first leg of this tie (1 – Gyökeres and Zubimendi).
Only Arda Güler (29) has created more chances than Alejandro Grimaldo (26) in the UEFA Champions League this season. The Spaniard’s total is now the most by a Bayer Leverkusen player in a single edition on record (since 2003-04), overtaking Florian Wirtz’s 25 last season.
Arsenal right back Jurriën Timber has the most true tackles attempted without being dribbled past of any player in the UEFA Champions League this season (15). Meanwhile, left back Piero Hincapié has the highest duel success rate of any defender in this edition (77.3% – min. 20), winning 17 of his 22 total duels so far.