Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 Arsenal: Arsenal retreats with its fixed weapon

Havertz’s late penalty against his former club put a different perspective on the disappointing performance than the one Arsenal had hoped for.

Arteta felt that the match witnessed “different stages” and his team was “very dominant” in the first half, but he did not take advantage of the early opportunity he had when Gabriel Martinelli’s powerful shot hit the crossbar.

He also unusually took off key player and captain Bukayo Saka after a subpar display, but his replacement Noni Madueke won the penalty that saw Arsenal avoid defeat in the competition for the first time this season.

Leverkusen were not happy with the penalty as Malik Thielemann’s torso appeared to collide with Madueke’s foot as he dribbled into the box.

But Havertz maintained his nerve to ensure that Arsenal remained the favorite in the return match next Tuesday at the Emirates Stadium.

“We are confident that we will get the job done in London,” Madueke said. “Keep going and try to change the rules of the game,” the coach said.

“I don’t really know what happened [for the penalty] I just know I felt contact, went down and got a penalty.

“Kai Havertz has been scoring high-pressing penalties all his career, and he had the composure to go forward. He’s really happy, not just for him but for the team as well.

“When you come in and your team is losing, it gives you more of a rush to try to change that.”

Arteta was ‘not surprised’ by Madueke’s influence as it was his ‘biggest quality’.

The Spanish coach added, “He is very brave in doing this and Noni represents a real threat. To have a player with this ability when you need him and to intervene in the way he did, is a great credit to him.”

Arsenal have avoided defeat in the first leg in four of their last five Champions League knockout matches (W2, D2, L1), and have continued to advance in two of the previous three meetings.

But in their previous 16 matches at this stage of the competition, they have lost nine times and advanced seven times.

Arsenal are still in contention for trophies in four competitions and are aiming to win their first trophy since winning the FA Cup in 2020.

Arteta was happy his side remained calm when they fell behind to leave Leverkusen with a draw.

“Yes, that’s why I said emotionally it becomes a completely different game because this is a very, very good team in transition, you have more speed and drive to create danger and go and tie the game, and you can get caught doing that,” he said.

“I liked it emotionally, we understood what we had to do.

“Obviously the level of execution has to be better and it will be better in the second leg. We will adapt some things and yes, we will move forward.”