Last Word on Football brings you the latest team news and predicted lineups ahead of the Arsenal vs Leverkusen Last-16 second-leg Champions League showdown. Arsenal will be confident about progressing through to the quarter-finals, considering their excellent form in this year’s competition.
Leverkusen will be buoyed by their battling performance in the first leg, and will come to London full of confidence but devoid of pressure. They have plenty of injury problems, but will need to produce a season-best performance to upset the Gunners.
Champions League: Team News and Predicted Lineups for Arsenal vs Leverkusen
Date: Tuesday, March 17, 2026
Venue: The Emirates
Kick-off: 20:00 GMT
Last meeting: Leverkusen 1-1 Arsenal (March 11, 2026).
Referee: Danny Makkelie
Current odds: Arsenal 1/4, Leverkusen 10/1, Draw 5/1.
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Arsenal Team News
In the pre-match press conference, Arteta spoke about the vital win over Everton at the weekend, but stressed the importance of looking ahead.
The Arsenal boss also discussed injuries: “Yes, both of them are out,” said Arteta when asked about the availability of Jurrien Timber and Martin Odegaard.
On the availability of Leandro Trossard, Arteta said: “He’s okay, he felt good so he’s available.”
Arteta confirmed there are no other injury concerns.
Leverkusen Team News
After the first leg 1-1 draw with Arsenal in the first leg, Leverkusen drew 1-1 with Bayern Munich. Leverkusen head into the second leg confident they can mix it with the best teams, and manager Kasper Hjulmand believes in his team:
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“It’s the third big game in just a few days. We’re ready. The team is raring to go, and I really like that. We’ve come here to win this game,” he said at his pre-match press conference on Monday.
“As a player, you don’t know how many chances you get on this stage. It’s a chance we should take.”
Hjulmand expects a different game away from last week’s first leg, but that doesn’t intimidate him.
“We’re expecting a special atmosphere in the stadium and opponents who will certainly look to start the game in an active, attacking and aggressive manner,” said the Bayer 04 coach.
“But we’re ready for that and have already put in some good performances this season, including in the Champions League.”
Leverkusen continue to have injury worries, with Elisse Ben Seghir, Mark Flekken, Loic Bade, Lucas Vasquez and Arthur among likely absentees.
Arsenal Predicted Lineup
Raya
Mosquera
Saliba
Gabriel
Calafiori
Zubimendi
Rice
Saka
Eze
Trossard
Gyokeres
Leverkusen Predicted Lineup
Blaswich
Quansah
Andrich
Tapsoba
Poku
Palacios
Grimaldo
Garcia
Tillman
Hofmann
Schick
Featured Image Credit:
IMAGO / Action Plus
