Havertz’s late penalty on return to Leverkusen rescues first-leg draw for Arsenal

Whoever runs Bayer Leverkusen’s social media accounts obviously meant it as a joke. But even they could not have predicted that a cheeky post hours before kick‑off would almost end up being such a good omen for Kasper Hjulmand’s side. “No corners allowed,” it read in a clear dig at Arsenal’s favoured modus operandi this season, before adding. “Worth a try …”

Nonetheless, the plan seemed to be working for almost the entire cagey first half when neither side managed to muster a single corner until injury time. But everything changed at the start of the second half when Leverkusen’s captain, Robert Andrich, headed home their second corner of the evening. “Well, this is awkward,” the Leverkusen social media team piped up.

Suddenly Arsenal found themselves behind and facing an unlikely defeat. Step forward Kai Havertz against his former club as the Germany forward came off the bench to score a controversial late equaliser from the penalty spot and save Arsenal’s blushes.

Best team in Europe? Certainly not on this evidence. After an unprecedented eight successive wins in the group stage, Arsenal had been expected to steamroller youthful opponents much-changed from the team that recorded an unbeaten Bundesliga season under Xabi Alonso. But until the introduction of Noni Madueke and Havertz they once again lacked creativity in attack and Mikel Arteta will be relieved to be heading into the second leg next week on level terms.

“We got caught out,” the Arsenal manager said regarding Leverkusen’s goal. “Then we had to really dig in, because emotionally it became a very different challenge. The level of execution obviously has to be better. It will be better in the second leg. We’ll adapt a few things and move on. “

Arsenal had William Saliba restored at the back alongside Gabriel Magalhães. Neither enjoyed their best night, however, with the latter player making several particularly uncharacteristic mistakes.

Thankfully the incessant rain in the Rhineland cleared up just before kick-off, although the large amounts of water left behind made removing the Champions League logo from the centre circle a much heavier task than usual.

Andrich wasted no time making his presence felt when he hauled down Viktor Gyökeres on the edge of the Leverkusen penalty area after less than two minutes with a tackle that would not have looked out of place in the Six Nations. Somehow he escaped a second yellow card for another agricultural challenge on Gyökeres minutes later. It was to prove costly for Arsenal.

Leverkusen, who saw off Olympiakos in the playoff round, tested David Raya in the eighth minute when Christian Kofane’s effort went straight at the Arsenal goalkeeper. The physically impressive teenage Cameroon striker was almost through on goal moments later after managing somehow to outmuscle Gabriel and it required a desperate intervention from Declan Rice tracking back to stop him.

David Raya is unable to keep out Robert Andrich’s far-post header and Bayer Leverkusen take the lead. Photograph: Friedemann Vogel/EPA

Arsenal’s first sight of goal came in the 20th minute when Gyökeres set up Gabriel Martinelli inside the area and he crashed a shot off the crossbar. Piero Hincapié was next to try his luck against the club he is on loan from until his move becomes permanent in the summer, but the Ecuador defender could only fire into Janis Blaswich’s arms. Yet unlike at this stage last year when Arsenal thrashed PSV Eindhoven 7-1 in the away leg, Leverkusen were proving a much tougher nut to crack.

Leverkusen came flying out the blocks in the second half and were ahead within two minutes of the restart. Raya did well to tip over Martin Terrier’s header straight from kick-off but from the resulting corner the unmarked Andrich was able to head in at the far post after Ibrahim Maza blocked Eberechi Eze’s vain attempt to stop him. “It’s the same for all teams – we’re all doing it,” said the former Denmark manager Hjulmand, who was seen in deep conversation with Arsenal’s set-piece coach Nicolas Jover after the goal.

Arteta responded by withdrawing the captain, Bukayo Saka, for Madueke, with Arsenal duly earning their first corner of the match on the hour – even if it came to nothing. There was a huge cheer from the home supporters when Havertz replaced Gyökeres but the Germany forward and Gabriel Jesus could not get any change either out of a well‑organised Leverkusen defence.

Jurriën Timber headed over a Martinelli cross from close range with six minutes to play and at that point it looked like Arsenal would head into the second leg with a deficit. But a mazy run into the penalty area from Madueke drew a silly challenge from fellow substitute Malik Tillman, even if there was minimal contact. “For me it’s not a penalty,” Hjulmand said. Havertz duly dispatched the spot-kick to make it a memorable homecoming and leave Arsenal in pole position to reach the last eight.