Arteta: Arsenal ´paid the price´ for lapses in concentration against Leverkusen

Mikel Arteta bemoaned Arsenal’s lapses of concentration after their draw 1-1 with Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie on Wednesday.

Arteta watched on as the Gunners fell behind at BayArena just 45 seconds into the second half, with an unmarked Robert Andrich heading past David Raya at the back post.

But Arsenal ensured they would not have to overcome a deficit in North London next Tuesday when Kai Havertz netted a late penalty to seal a draw against his former club.

Havertz’s penalty, timed at 88 minutes and 33 seconds, was Arsenal’s latest goal from a spot-kick in a major European game since Nicklas Bendtner scored against Porto in March 2010 (90:26).

However, the way in which Arsenal found themselves behind frustrated Arteta, with Andrich’s goal just the second time that Arsenal had conceded in the first minute of the second half in a major European game, after Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s goal for Barcelona in the Champions League in March 2010.

Leverkusen’s forward-thinking kick-off saw Martin Terrier force a save from Raya, with the opening goal coming from the resulting corner.

“The game had very different periods. We started well, had a massive chance, hit the crossbar with Martinelli,” Arteta told TNT Sports.

“We had some dominance, but didn’t do enough actions. They were quite dangerous because of that. We didn’t pay enough attention at kick-off, and after they scored the goal.

“We had to stay emotionally very composed, we improved with the changes and found a way to draw the match. These are the details.

“They have certain routines, we didn’t do it, and we paid the price for it.”

89 – Kai Havertz’s penalty, timed at 88 minutes and 33 seconds, was Arsenal’s latest penalty goal in a major European game since Nicklas Bendtner scored v FC Porto in March 2010 (90:26). Pressure. pic.twitter.com/AM7f3o9R7y

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 11, 2026

Despite the tie being all square, the Opta supercomputer has still backed Arsenal to progress, with the Gunners assigned a 79% chance of reaching the quarter-finals.

And they have good reason to fancy their chances, given they have now avoided defeat in the first leg in four of their last five knockout games in the Champions League (W2 D2 L1), going on to progress in two of the previous three ties.

Noni Madueke, who won the penalty for Havertz, is confident that his team can get over the line, with the winner of the tie facing Bodo/Glimt or Sporting in the last eight.

“We came here to try to win, but when you can’t, it’s good to draw,” Madueke said.

“We’re fully confident heading back to the Emirates, we’re confident we can get the job done back in London.”

Leverkusen boss Kasper Hjulmand and goalscorer Andrich both made their feelings known about the decision to award a penalty for Madueke, who went down under the challenge of Malik Tillman inside the penalty area.

“I felt contact, so I went down, penalty. I know Kai very well, he’s been scoring high-pressure goals all his career. I had 100 per cent confidence in him,” Madueke added.

“When you come on and your team is losing, you’ve got extra impetus to take risks. I tried to mix it up as much as possible.

“When you score in the last minute to draw it’s a positive. We know we could have been better, but away to a top team, it’s a positive result.

“Our basics could be better. On the ball, we weren’t as good at threatening their box, but we will show that in London, for sure.”