Arsenal cruised into the Champions League quarter-finals on Tuesday, securing a 2-0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen in the second leg of their last-16 tie, thanks in part to a sensational goal from Eberechi Eze.
Often criticized for their pragmatic style this season, Mikel Arteta’s side delivered two memorable goals at the Emirates to clinch a 3-1 aggregate win. Eze opened the scoring just before halftime with a thunderous long-range effort, while Declan Rice sealed the result after halftime with a composed finish against a Leverkusen team that struggled to cope.
After needing a late Kai Havertz penalty to snatch a 1-1 draw in the first leg, Arsenal looked far more assured in the return fixture, reaching the quarter-finals for the third consecutive year. They now prepare to face Sporting Lisbon, who staged an impressive comeback to overturn a three-goal deficit and defeat Bodo/Glimt 5-3 on aggregate. Arsenal have fond memories of Lisbon, having routed Sporting 5-1 in the group stage last season.
The win also sets Arsenal up perfectly for Sunday’s League Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley, as they seek their first trophy in six years. Arteta’s team is also nine points clear at the top of the Premier League and remains in contention for a remarkable quadruple, with an FA Cup quarter-final against Southampton on the horizon.
Chasing their first ever Champions League crown, Arsenal’s campaign is gathering momentum. Teenage record-breaker Max Dowman, who became the youngest Premier League goalscorer at 16 with his strike against Everton, was among the substitutes but not required, as Arsenal dominated from the outset.
From the opening whistle, Arsenal pressed relentlessly, with Gabriel Magalhaes heading wide and Leandro Trossard forcing multiple saves from Janis Blaswich. The breakthrough arrived in the 36th minute when Eze, after a deft touch and swivel at the edge of the box, unleashed a rocket into the top corner—though his celebration saw him mistakenly point to the Adidas logo rather than the Arsenal crest.
Eze’s first Champions League goal capped his resurgence after a slow start following his summer move from Crystal Palace. Arsenal nearly doubled their lead after halftime through Trossard before Rice capitalized on a Leverkusen error, calmly slotting home for his first European goal of the season.
Arsenal’s commanding performance left Leverkusen with little hope, and the Gunners now look to maintain their momentum as their quest for silverware continues across four competitions.
