"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 stoppage 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. Suddenly Arsenal found themselves in a game. Step forward Kai Havertz to rescue them against his former club as the Germany forward came off the bench to score a late equaliser from the penalty spot."
"After an unprecedented eight straight wins in the group stage, Arsenal had been expected to steamroll youthful opponents who are much changed from the team who recorded an unbeaten Bundesliga season under Xabi Alonso. But until the introduction of Madueke and Havertz they once again lacked creativity in attack."
Bayer Leverkusen's social media joked about preventing Arsenal from earning corners before their Champions League match, a prediction that nearly held true through the first half. However, Leverkusen broke the deadlock in the second half when captain Robert Andrich headed home from their second corner. Arsenal, despite eight consecutive group-stage wins, struggled with creativity until substitutes Noni Madueke and Kai Havertz entered the game. Havertz scored from the penalty spot after Madueke was fouled, securing a 1-1 draw. Arsenal made minimal changes from their previous match, with William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes returning to defense but underperforming. The second leg takes place next Tuesday with the tie level.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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