Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze opened his Champions League account with a stunning goal as his team defeated Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 at home to reach the quarter-finals with a 3-1 aggregate victory on Tuesday.
Leverkusen somehow withstood a barrage of Arsenal pressure in the opening half hour, with keeper Janis Blaswich excellent, until Eze’s thunderbolt from outside the penalty area in the 37th minute put the Gunners in control of an awkward last-16 draw.
The indefatigable Declan Rice made it 2-0 just after the hour with a precise low finish, and Leverkusen, who ended Arsenal’s 100 percent record in this season’s competition when they had the better of a 1-1 draw in last week’s first leg, never really threatened a comeback.
Premier League leaders Arsenal have been criticized at times this season for their efficient rather than flamboyant style, but were hugely impressive as they reached the last eight, where they faced Portuguese side Sporting.
“I don’t know if I could dream of scoring a goal like that,” said Eze, who had not scored in his first eight Champions League appearances in the £60m summer.
«It’s a special goal, I will remember it for a long time. Hopefully it is the first of many for me in the Champions League. I could watch this for a long time.»
ROOM OF SILVERWARE
Spring days are warming up in North London and the smell of silverware is in the air as Arsenal’s excellent season comes to a boil.
Manager Mikel Arteta’s main concern is the Premier League title race, which now sees his side nine points ahead in the battle for England’s first crown since 2004.
But if they win the League Cup final against Manchester City at Wembley on Sunday, the hitherto silent talk about a possible quadruplet will suddenly not seem so bizarre.
There is still a very long way to go, but there is a laser focus on Arteta’s team at the moment, and that was on display again on Tuesday against Leverkusen.
A week after being fortunate to emerge from the Rhineland with a draw, Arsenal produced one of its most dominant attacking displays with 21 attempts on goal ksha.
By the time Eze took Leandro Trossard’s pass with his back to goal, turned kindly and fired a ferocious shot from 25 yards that flew past helpless visiting keeper Blaswich, Arsenal had already made ten attempts on target.
Gabriel threatened twice with headers from trademark corners, and Blaswich worked wonders to deny Trossard twice and also punch away a Rice free-kick.
After some recent nervy displays on home pitch, this was the moment when Arsenal broke away, at least before half-time.
Leverkusen kicked towards the noisy fans in the second half, stepped up a gear and started to make some progress, without really endangering David Raya’s goal.
However, it was Arsenal who had the lead and gave themselves breathing space in the 63rd minute when Rice burst onto a poor clearance, took a silky touch and drilled a low shot flawlessly past Blaswich.
Arsenal then took their foot off the gas but easily contained Leverkusen, whose best chance came late on when Raya made a brilliant save from Christian Kofane’s side-footed effort.
Arteta’s team is not only a clear leader in the Premier League and in the final of the League Cup, but is also in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup and has now reached the business side of Europe’s elite competition, which few teams like to enter.
“I’m devastated, it’s non-stop,” Rice said. «We still compete in all the competitions, so it’s been every three days since October. We find ways to win, and it’s all good.»
Published on March 18, 2026
