Eze stunner propels Arsenal to Champions League last eight

Arsenal smoothly advanced to the Champions League quarter-finals thanks to Eberechi Eze's magnificent goal, which powered a 2-0 victory against Bayer Leverkusen in the last-16 return fixture on Tuesday.

Frequently criticised for gritty triumphs this term, Mikel Arteta's team delivered two impressive strikes to confirm their 3-1 overall success at the Emirates Stadium.

Eze opened the scoring with a powerful effort from distance towards the end of the opening period, and Declan Rice's calm effort wrapped up the superior Leverkusen side after the break.

Arsenal required a late spot-kick from Kai Havertz to secure a 1-1 stalemate in the initial encounter last week, yet they dominated the return match and progressed to the last eight for the third year running.

Eliminated by Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals during the previous campaign, Arsenal will confront Sporting Lisbon in the quarter-finals following the Portuguese outfit's impressive comeback from a three-goal deficit in the first leg to defeat Bodo/Glimt 5-3 on aggregate.

The Gunners overwhelmed Sporting 5-1 in Lisbon during the group phase last term.

Dismissing Leverkusen served as perfect groundwork for Arsenal's attempt to claim their first trophy in half a decade against Manchester City in the League Cup decider at Wembley this Sunday.

Arsenal, pursuing a quadruple and whose previous trophy was the 2020 FA Cup, lead the Premier League by nine points over runners-up City as they seek their first domestic crown in 22 years.

They are also due to face second-division Southampton in the FA Cup last eight later in April.

This season is unfolding as a remarkable one for Arsenal, who have yet to conquer the Champions League, having lost their sole final to Barcelona in 2006.

Following his strike against Everton on Sunday, which made him the youngest ever Premier League scorer at 16, Max Dowman was among the substitutes.

Arsenal had little call for the young prodigy as they dominated Leverkusen.

Unstoppable Arsenal

A surge of red flooded the Leverkusen box from the outset, with Gabriel Magalhaes guilty of heading astray from Bukayo Saka's flag kick.

Leandro Trossard's sharp effort from outside the box prompted an excellent stop from Janis Blaswich.

Deploying smart and swift attacks, Arsenal were slicing apart the Leverkusen backline.

Saka nodded directly at Blaswich before Trossard's near-post drive elicited another outstanding block from the Leverkusen custodian.

Blaswich rescued Leverkusen once more by denying Trossard's effort at close quarters and then holding Ben White's follow-up.

It took an extraordinary moment to overcome the outstanding Blaswich, and Eze provided it as Arsenal's onslaught paid off in the 36th minute.

Eze controlled the ball on the area periphery and spun to fire a scorching shot that flew beyond Blaswich into the upper corner.

The sole error Eze made was in his jubilation, as the midfielder incorrectly gestured to the Adidas emblem on his kit rather than the Arsenal crest.

Crucially, the 27-year-old's debut Champions League goal bolstered his resurgence after a tough initiation to life at the club post his summer transfer from Crystal Palace.

Strangling Leverkusen's momentum with intense pressing, Arsenal nearly extended their advantage shortly into the second half when Trossard's bending shot sailed high.

They soon put the visitors away as Rice netted in the 63rd minute.

Intercepting the ball deep inside the Leverkusen territory, Rice moved forward to the area edge and slotted a precise finish beyond Blaswich for his initial Champions League strike this term.