Last Word on Football brings you the latest team news and predicted lineups ahead of the Leverkusen vs Arsenal last-16 Champions League clash. Premier League leaders Arsenal are understandably the favourites to progress to the quarter-finals. They breezed through the group stages, winning all eight games.
Leverkusen currently sit sixth in the Bundesliga with two wins in their last five league games. The German side finished 16th in the Champions League group stage, before beating Olympiacos 2-0 on aggregate to reach the last-16.
Champions League: Team News and Predicted Lineups for Leverkusen vs Arsenal
Date: Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Venue: BayArena, Leverkusen.
Kick-off: 17:45 GMT
Last meeting: Arsenal 4-1 Leverkusen (February 27, 2002, Champions League). *Not counting the friendly from 2024.
Referee: Umut Meler
Current odds: Leverkusen 11/2, Arsenal 4/9, Draw 7/2.
Read More: The Biggest Questions Over Arsenal’s Premier League Title Bid After Brighton Win
Leverkusen Team News
Leverkusen boss Kasper Hjulmand has plenty of injury problems to contend with, including top scorer Patrick Schick, who has been missing the last two games through a muscle injury.
Mark Flekken, the club’s first-choice goalkeeper, will be missing due to a knee issue. The Germans will also be missing Artur, Loic Bade, and Lucas Vazquez. Nathan Tella and Eliesse Ben Seghir are nearing a return, but this may be a game too early.
In the build-up, Hjulmand has spoken about the challenge ahead for his team:
“It’s always about looking at the opportunities for me. Things can happen in football. Arsenal are the clear favourites; they’re at the top of their game and have been building a strong team for years.
“We have 14 new players out of 25 from last season, but we’re building, learning and adapting, and the quality is improving. If we’re sharp, if we play at our best, everyone expresses themselves, and we play with courage – then who knows?”
Read More: The Greatest Footballers of All Time: Part Two, 1918-1939
Arsenal Team News
In the pre-match press conference, Mikel Arteta discussed changing the mindset of his players for the knockout stages:
“Yes, you start the second part of the campaign and you know what is at stake. We start to play games where you are in or you are out, there is no margin for manoeuvre, and we’re going to face a very difficult contest tomorrow against a really good team,” said Arteta.
When asked about the availability of Martin Odegaard, Arteta confirmed: “He’s out.”
Discussing the potential return of Riccardo Calafiori and Leandro Trossard, the Gunners boss said:
“Those two are a possibility that they are available, and we’ll see tomorrow.”
Arteta was also asked about the availability of Gabriel, William Saliba, Declan Rice, and Martin Zubimendi, and when asked if they were available, he said “Yes.”
Leverkusen Predicted Lineup
Blaswich
Quansah
Tapsoba
Grimaldo
García
Terrier
Kofane
Palacios
Maza
Andrich
Culbreath
Arsenal Predicted Lineup
Raya
Timber
Saliba
Gabriel
Hincapie
Zubimendi
Rice
Saka
Eze
Martinelli
Gyokeres
IMAGO / Uk Sports Pics LLC
