Arsenal sink Leverkusen to secure Champions League quarter-final spot

After a 1-1 first leg draw at the BayArena last week, goals from Eberechi Eze (36') and Declan Rice (63') secured a 2-0 victory at the Emirates.

The Gunners, who needed a late Kai Havertz penalty to salvage a 1-1 draw from the first leg, produced a dominant display on Tuesday night to maintain their hunt for silverware on four fronts.

Eze picked up a Leandro Trossard pass before smashing a superb shot past Janis Blaswich for his fourth goal in seven games.

Rice also produced a sublime finish, with the victory setting up a last eight clash against Sporting, who came back from a three-goal first leg deficit to beat Bodo/Glimt 5-3 on aggregate.

Speaking after the game, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta said: "I think we started the game so well. I think we were a threat from every angle.

"The 'keeper maintained them in the game, I think, and we needed a magical moment from Ebs to score a wonderful goal.

"In the second half, we had periods of domination, periods where they dominated us as well because they are a really good side and they are really good in what they do.

"And again, their transitions opened the opportunity to win the game and the tie. Unfortunately, as well, we had four or five situations where we should have probably scored the third one and put the game to bed.

"But overall, I think we fully deserve to be in the quarter-finals."

Leverkusen boss Kasper Hjulmand added: "In the first half, we made too many mistakes in our build-up situations.

"Arsenal put a lot of pressure on us, but we didn't concede many big chances, just some set pieces, and then [Eberechi] Eze scored this fantastic goal."

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