Late Havertz penalty snatches Arsenal draw at Leverkusen
Kai Havertz netted a penalty in the 89th minute to earn Arsenal a 1-1 stalemate against Bayer Leverkusen during the first leg of their Champions League last-16 clash on Wednesday.
The Gunners, unbeaten in their eight league phase matches, trailed after a straightforward corner routine from the hosts, with Robert Andrich nodding home shortly after the interval.
However, deep into stoppage time, the substitute Havertz calmly dispatched the spot-kick versus his old team following a foul on Noni Madueke inside the penalty area.
The top flight frontrunners struggled for rhythm, and their expertise in set-pieces proved futile amid multiple promising free-kicks, yet they now simply require victory in the return fixture at home to advance to the quarter-finals for the third year running.
Fielding a youthful squad still adapting post summer overhaul, Leverkusen have fluctuated in form this season, yet displayed sufficient promise to pose a challenge for Arsenal at the Emirates in the upcoming week.
The opening 45 minutes saw both teams cautious, Leverkusen cautious of Arsenal's attacking threat while the visitors adopted an even more conservative approach, mindful of the home leg to come.
Within the first four minutes, Arsenal earned two free-kicks close to the opposition goal, though neither yielded results.
The hosts posed threats on counter-attacks, especially via young striker Christian Kofane. The clearest opportunity early on arrived for Gabriel Martinelli, who struck the bar with 19 minutes on the clock.
Leverkusen increased intensity post break and led almost immediately.
Martin Terrier compelled a superb save from David Raya with a header off a Grimaldo delivery mere moments after the restart.
From the subsequent corner, Grimaldo picked out Andrich unmarked at the back post, allowing the German midfielder an easy headed goal.
Post goal, Leverkusen coach Kasper Hjulmand, who had earlier raised concerns over the opponents' set-piece methods, engaged in a heated discussion with Arsenal's dead-ball specialist Nicolas Jover.
The visitors' initial corner arrived at the hour, met with enthusiastic roars from the 2,100 away supporters.
As frustration mounted for Arsenal, fortune smiled when replacement Malik Tillman was penalised for tripping Madueke in the area.
Receiving a friendly reception upon entering the fray, Havertz coolly placed the ball into the net's lower corner and offered a subdued response towards his debut professional outfit.