Arsenal were forced to fight back after falling behind to Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of their Champions League round-of-16 encounter, in a match that highlighted both teams’ tactical use of set-pieces.
The breakthrough came early in the second half when Leverkusen executed a well-rehearsed routine that nearly produced a goal seconds earlier. Goalkeeper David Raya had already been called into action, tipping Martin Terrier’s header over the bar following a clever move from the restart.
Moments later, Leverkusen capitalized on another structured play. From a corner delivered by Alex Grimaldo, captain Robert Andrich found himself unmarked at the far post and headed the ball into the net. The goal marked the first time Arsenal had fallen behind in this season’s Champions League campaign.
The moment also sparked a brief exchange between Arsenal’s set-piece coach Nicolas Jover and Leverkusen manager Kasper Hjulmand. Jover reportedly remarked that the German side had “learned from the best,” referencing the discussion around Arsenal’s own reputation for using physical tactics during corner kicks.
Hjulmand later clarified that his earlier comments had been misunderstood. He explained that his remarks were not criticism of Arsenal alone, but rather a broader question about the limits of physical contact during offensive blocking in set-piece situations.
According to the Leverkusen coach, many teams employ similar strategies to create space in the penalty area, including his own side. Jover’s response, he said, simply pointed out that the practice is common across modern football.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta admitted disappointment at conceding from a set-piece, particularly because his team had studied Leverkusen’s routines beforehand. The Spaniard revealed that he had shown his players several examples of the German side’s creative kick-off and corner strategies before the match.
Despite that preparation, Arteta said his players lacked the necessary urgency and awareness in the decisive moments that led to the goal.
Before the match in Germany, Arsenal had conceded only 11 goals from set-pieces in all competitions this season — a defensive record matched only by Manchester City. Only Wolves and Everton had allowed fewer.
The Gunners eventually found their response late in the game. Former Leverkusen forward Kai Havertz, who spent a decade with the German club before joining Chelsea in 2020, came off the bench to equalize in the 89th minute.
The opportunity came after Noni Madueke was fouled inside the penalty area. Havertz calmly converted the resulting chance, ensuring Arsenal left the first leg with the tie level and everything to play for in the return match
