Arsenal’s 2-0 win at Emirates Stadium in this UEFA Champions League 1/8 final leg was built on a controlled defensive platform within their 4-2-3-1. With David Raya in goal and a back four of Ben White (right), William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhães centrally, and Piero Hincapié on the left, Arsenal limited Bayer Leverkusen to 9 total shots and only 2 on target. Arsenal saw 4 of their attempts blocked by Bayer Leverkusen, while Leverkusen saw 2 of their efforts blocked by Arsenal, underlining how often the home side managed to get bodies in the line of shots.
Defensive Audit and Structural Balance
Hincapié’s positioning on the left of the back four was important: his grid (2:1) places him as the left-sided defender, complementing White on the right (2:4). Saliba (2:3) and Gabriel (2:2) formed a compact central pairing in front of Raya, who only needed 2 saves to preserve the clean sheet. Despite Leverkusen having 58% possession and completing 470 of 535 passes (88%), Arsenal’s defensive shape ensured most of that circulation remained away from high-value zones, reflected in Leverkusen’s modest 0.52 xG.
Engine Room and Attacking Efficiency
Arsenal’s double pivot of Martín Zubimendi (3:2) and Declan Rice (3:1) underpinned the performance. Arsenal had less of the ball (42% possession, 383 passes at 83% accuracy) but generated 21 total shots, 12 on target, and 1.7 xG. The key attacking band behind Viktor Gyökeres featured Bukayo Saka (4:3) on the right, Eberechi Eze (4:2) centrally, and Leandro Trossard (4:1) from the left.
The breakthrough came on 36': goal by E. Eze, assist by L. Trossard. The second arrived on 63': goal by D. Rice, with no assist recorded. That clinical edge contrasted sharply with Leverkusen, who forced 10 saves from Janis Blaswich’s opposite number but conceded twice from a lower volume of overall possession.
Substitutions were precisely timed and reshaped the midfield and flanks. For Leverkusen, M. Tillman replaced M. Terrier at 60', and M. Culbreath replaced E. Poku also at 60', adding fresh legs in the advanced roles. Later, E. Palacios made way for P. Schick at 70', and R. Andrich was replaced by E. Fernandez at 83', altering both midfield and back line profiles.
Arsenal’s changes were concentrated after the second goal: at 68' M. Zubimendi went off for C. Norgaard; at 69' three switches followed in quick succession – E. Eze for K. Havertz, L. Trossard for G. Martinelli, and B. White for C. Mosquera – then at 90' V. Gyökeres was replaced by M. Lewis-Skelly. These moves freshened the spine and wide areas while protecting the 2-0 advantage.
Verdict and Implications
In a 1/8 final context, Arsenal’s ability to concede possession yet win the shot and xG battle (1.7 vs 0.52) gives them a strong platform for the return leg. The clean sheet at home, combined with contributions from Eze and Rice, positions Arsenal favourably in the tie, while Leverkusen must convert their territorial control into higher-quality chances in the second match.
