{"id":1032,"date":"2026-03-18T05:17:19","date_gmt":"2026-03-18T05:17:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ipsport.com.ng\/?p=1032"},"modified":"2026-03-18T05:17:19","modified_gmt":"2026-03-18T05:17:19","slug":"arsenal-2-bayer-leverkusen-0-agg-3-1-was-ezes-one-of-this-seasons-best-champions-league-goals-what-next","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ipsport.com.ng\/?p=1032","title":{"rendered":"Arsenal 2 Bayer Leverkusen 0 (Agg: 3-1) \u2013 Was Eze\u2019s one of this season\u2019s best Champions League goals? What next?"},"content":{"rendered":"


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Arsenal will face Sporting CP in the quarter-finals of the Champions League after Eberechi Eze\u2019s stunning first goal in the competition helped them beat Bayer Leverkusen 2-0 at the Emirates and 3-1 on aggregate.<\/p>\n

Arsenal had 12 attempts in the first half and Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Janis Blaswich had performed superbly to keep them out, before Eze\u2019s stunning strike on the spin from about 20 yards fired Mikel Arteta\u2019s side ahead.<\/p>\n

Leverkusen had defended well across the tie, but played themselves into trouble after 63 minutes, and Declan Rice struck a second with a fine shot from the edge of the box.<\/p>\n

Kai Havertz had a third goal disallowed for handball and David Raya produced a superb save from Christian Kofane, but overall Arsenal were comfortable and will now face Viktor Gyokeres\u2019 former side in the next round in the weeks of April 6 and 13.<\/p>\n

Here, The Athletic<\/em>\u2019s Dan Sheldon breaks down the key talking points.<\/p>\n\n

Was Eze\u2019s goal one of the best in this season\u2019s Champions League?<\/h2>\n

Blaswich was proving to be an immovable object as he made seven saves in the first half alone.<\/p>\n

One shot he could not keep out, however, was Eze\u2019s superb effort to break the deadlock \u2014 and when it comes to goal of the tournament, the 27-year-old will surely be on the long voting list. It was that<\/em> good, and remarkably similar to his effort against Tottenham Hotspur in February.<\/p>\n

He received a bouncing ball from Leandro Trossard, took one touch to set himself on the turn, and then struck it into the top corner. Such was the strike, he didn\u2019t even break a stride after he saw it ripple into the net.<\/p>\n

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To celebrate, he nonchalantly completed the turn from his half-volley and held up the Arsenal badge on his shirt (finding it at the second attempt).<\/p>\n

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Eze was a picture of elegance in delirious surroundings. William Saliba, hands on head, could not believe what he had just witnessed, nor could the equally raucous home crowd.<\/p>\n

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As first Champions League goals go, Eze\u2019s is right up there with the best of them.<\/p>\n\n

Will Arsenal fancy their chances against Sporting?<\/h2>\n

Absolutely.<\/p>\n

Sporting\u2019s comprehensive comeback victory against Bodo\/Glimt was impressive (winning 5-0 after extra time, having lost the first leg 3-0), but Arsenal are an entirely different proposition.<\/p>\n

They have proven themselves to be arguably Europe\u2019s best team this season, finishing top of the Champions League league phase, and will enter the quarter-final against Sporting as clear favourites.<\/p>\n

And because they finished top, Arsenal earned the right to play every second leg of the knockout stages at the Emirates, meaning they will travel to Lisbon to play on either April 7 or April 8 before the following week\u2019s fixture in north London.<\/p>\n

A fascinating element to this tie is also Gyokeres\u2019 return to his former club.<\/p>\n

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\n (Stuart MacFarlane\/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

Gyokeres scored 97 goals in 102 games for the Portuguese side, earning him a \u20ac63.5million (\u00a354.8m, $74.3m) fixed upfront fee plus \u20ac10m (\u00a38.6m, $11.5m) move to Arsenal last summer.<\/p>\n

Although he is yet to get anywhere near those dizzying heights for Arsenal, Gyokeres going back to Sporting will make for a compelling narrative.<\/p>\n\n

So Arsenal can score from open play, too?<\/b><\/h2>\n

In the build-up to the second leg at the Emirates, Bayer Leverkusen, via their X account, made multiple light-hearted references to set pieces.<\/p>\n

They repainted the quarter-circle in one post and uploaded a picture of the London Eye with a caption that read, \u201cNo corners at all \u2014 if only it was like that everywhere in London\u201d. It was a similar story in the build-up to the first leg, too.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

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No corners at all \u2013 if only it was like that everywhere in London 😄 pic.twitter.com\/fPvTbVljBt<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Bayer 04 Leverkusen (@bayer04_en) March 17, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

However, as it turned out, Arsenal did not need set pieces to beat Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday night, with both goals coming from open play.<\/p>\n

That said, they did test the German club from set pieces in the first half, particularly from Bukayo Saka\u2019s in-swinging corners towards Gabriel.<\/p>\n

Arsenal have become known for their set pieces this season, but their Champions League win was further evidence that they can hurt teams in more than one way.<\/p>\n

Yes, Bayer Leverkusen\u2019s defending left plenty to be desired at times, but in open play, Arteta\u2019s side were patient and probing in equal measure.<\/p>\n\n

What did Arteta say?<\/b><\/h2>\n

We will bring you this after he has spoken at the post-match press conference.<\/span><\/p>\n\n

What next for Arsenal?<\/h2>\n

Sunday, March 22:<\/strong> Manchester City, Carabao Cup final (Wembley), 4.30pm UK, 12.30pm ET<\/p>\n<\/div>\n