UCL: Bayer Leverkusen v Arsenal

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Arsenal travel to Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday for the first leg of a round of 16 match-up. As one of the competition’s favorites, Mikel Arteta will hope his side can leave Germany with a healthy advantage.

Led by manager Kasper Hjulmand, Leverkusen enter the match with mixed feelings. They have won one of their last five matches and sit sixth in the Bundesliga. A series of injuries also afflict them, with star striker Patrick Schick among the doubts. Edmond Tapsoba, once linked with Arsenal, will marshal the defense, and Martin Terrier will look to spark the attack. Leverkusen will likely look to soak up pressure and spring on the counter.

Arsenal won all eight matches in the group phase and come into the match on the back of three successive victories in the Premier League. Having reached the semi-finals of last year’s competition, The Gunners will hope to go further and claim their first Champions League. It starts with Leverkusen, and Mikel Arteta will do well to focus his side on the task at hand. Leandro Trossard and Riccardo Calafiori are doubts after knocks against Mansfield, but Kai Havertz played valuable minutes and will hope to start. Bukayo Saka, Ebe Eze, and Declan Rice will be key to carrying the attack and sustaining pressure.

Will Arsenal do their job and make the second leg a foregone conclusion? Or will Leverkusen prove to be stubborn opposition? Join us at Dillon’s on Wednesday afternoon and help us kick off the CL knockouts right!

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