"Football is a funny game and it brings special stories and him coming back here after such a long time, being part of this club, to come here and score such an important goal, I think it's a big moment, said Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta."
"That penalty -- awarded for a faint touch on Noni Madueke by Leverkusen's Malik Tillman -- secured a 1-1 draw that makes the Gunners firm favorites to progress to the quarterfinals for the third consecutive year."
"Havertz now has three goals and two assists in 316 minutes since returning from his knee injury. The elongated wait to take his spot kick will have felt like an eternity. But Havertz kept his cool, stroked the ball past Leverkusen goalkeeper Janis Blaswich and salvaged a point."
Kai Havertz returned to Bayer Leverkusen as an Arsenal player and scored a crucial 89th-minute penalty to earn a 1-1 Champions League draw. The penalty was awarded for minimal contact on Noni Madueke by Malik Tillman. Havertz, who spent a decade at Leverkusen before leaving at age 10, was emotionally recognized before the match with a framed picture of his playing days. Despite the dramatic finish, Arsenal's overall performance was underwhelming and one-dimensional. Manager Mikel Arteta acknowledged the significance of Havertz's goal as a defining moment, though the result barely reflected Arsenal's deserved outcome. The draw strengthens Arsenal's position to reach the quarterfinals for the third consecutive year.
Read at ESPN.com
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