Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2025-26 UEFA Champions League | League Phase
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Arsenal have the opportunity to win the quadruple this season and this week could be a massive step towards that as they welcome Bayer Leverkusen to the Emirates Stadium.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / USA – Not televised
How to watch online: UK – discovery+ / USA – Paramount+
Arsenal preview: Big week for the Gunners
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal took a step closer to ending their 22-year drought for the Premier League title as they extended their lead at the top-of-the-table to nine points with 16-year-old Max Dowman completing their 2-0 defeat of Everton in north London.
This coming weekend will see the Gunners face Manchester City, their closest challenger in the league, in the EFL Cup final at Wembley Stadium, all while seeking to reach the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League this midweek.
Bayer Leverkusen preview: Solid Leverkusen
Arsenal have a job on their hands, though, with Bayer Leverkusen putting in an excellent performance to share a 1-1 draw with the English leaders at the BayArena last week, with a controversial Kai Havertz penalty late on earning Arsenal themselves a draw.
Leverkusen were stung by their former wunderkind but they have not been dealt a knockout blow. As was the case in their 1-1 draw with Bayern Munich at the weekend, Leverkusen will be extremely tough for Arsenal to break down.
Arsenal team news: Timber out
Jurrien Timber has picked up an injury from the weekend and he is now sidelined for the hosts, while Belgium international attacker Leandro Trossard has returned to full fitness.
Leandro Trossard could well come in ahead of Gabriel Martinelli with the Belgian winger gaining a reputation for scoring big goals for the Gunners. Martin Odegaard remains unavailable.
Predicted XI (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Rice, Zubimendi, Eze; Saka, Gyokeres, Trossard
Unavailable: Timber (Injured), Merino (Injured), Odegaard (Injured)
Questionable:
Bayer Leverkusen team news: Terrier to be okay
Martin Terrier was on the receiving end of a woeful tackle from Nicolas Jackson and he is expected to be fine now, while Arthur remains sidelined alongside Lucas Vazquez.
Former Monaco attacking midfielder Eliesse Ben Seghir, who has been sidelined through injury for a while, has now returned to training earlier this week.
Predicted XI (3-4-2-1): Blaswich; Quansah, Andrich, Tapsoba; Poku, Palacios, Garcia, Grimaldo; Terrier, Maza; Kofane
Unavailable: Bade (Injured), Arthur (Injured), Vazquez (Injured)
Questionable: Terrier (Injured)
Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen prediction
Kasper Hjulmand is a good coach and he will ensure, as has been the case in two key games over the last week or so, that Leverkusen will be intensely difficult for Arsenal to play through or around – and there has to be questions as to whether or not the hosts have the pace and incision to go over. As a result, it may be a frustrating watch for the neutral here as Leverkusen try to take it deep but it does have to be said that Arsenal do remain favourites.
Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen Tip: Arsenal to win & under 3.5 goals
