Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen predictions and betting tips – Will Gunners advance to last eight?

Arsenal salvaged a 1-1 draw at Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of this last-16 clash, putting them in the box seat ahead of the return fixture at the Emirates Stadium.

Will Arsenal get the job done in front of their own supporters, or are Leverkusen capable of upsetting the Gunners in London? We will find out on Tuesday night…

• Arsenal to win to nil – 23/20 with SBK
• First goal between the 31st and 40th minute – 13/2 with Betfred
• Bukayo Saka to score any time – 7/5 with bet365

Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen odds

Find the latest Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen betting odds here. All odds are provided by our recommended football bookmakers and are subject to change.

Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen predictions

When you are competing for trophies on several different fronts, the idea is to compartmentalise each competition to avoid getting overwhelmed. That is easier said than done, however. 

Although there is no direct link between, say, the Premier League and the Champions League, it is inevitable that results on one stage have an influence on the other.

For Arsenal, that is good news this week. Mikel Arteta’s men still have work to do to reach the Champions League quarter-finals. But their chances of doing so probably received a boost at the weekend.

Arsenal left it late to beat Everton on Saturday. Viktor Gyokeres gave them the lead in the 89th minute, before Max Dowman wrapped things up in second-half stoppage time.

The night got even better for Arsenal a couple of hours later as Manchester City slipped up at West Ham United, only managing a 1-1 draw against the relegation battlers.

As such, Arsenal increased their advantage at the top of the Premier League to nine points. The title race is not over yet, and City still have a game in hand on Arteta’s team, but Arsenal are in a commanding position.

That helps Tuesday’s tussle with Bayer Leverkusen for two reasons. Firstly, Arsenal will be in a positive, confident mood when they arrive at the Emirates Stadium for the second leg of this last-16 tie.

Secondly, they will be able to play with more freedom than they would have done if results had gone against them at the weekend. 

Arsenal have a tendency to get nervous, and their performances usually suffer when they do. Now that they have a comfortable buffer in the title race, some of the pressure has been taken off (at least for now).

Not that Arsenal should expect to have everything their own way here. Bayer Leverkusen more than matched them in the first leg, and Arsenal needed a late penalty to simply avoid defeat in Germany. Arteta will take nothing for granted.

“We had the game well under control, but didn’t score,” the Arsenal boss said after the 1-1 draw at the BayArena.

“Then we let the game slip away. That was unnecessary. We gave them hope and it was a different game. In the last 20-25 minutes, we played better again and I think the equaliser was deserved.”

Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen betting tips

Arsenal face Bayer Leverkusen in the second leg of their last-16 tie – who goes through?

Clean sheet for Gunners

Arsenal kept a clean sheet against Everton at the weekend, denying Premier League opponents a goal for the second match in a row.

The Gunners have now registered back-to-back shut-outs in the top flight on three separate occasions in 2026. Their defence remains England’s toughest to break down.

In fact, it is perhaps the foremost rearguard in the whole of Europe. Bayer Leverkusen caused Arsenal problems last week, though, so Arteta will be looking for an improvement here.

The Gunners should control proceedings in front of their own fans, and that will help them keep Leverkusen out of dangerous areas. A clean sheet would go a long way to sending Arsenal through.

Back Arsenal to win to nil at 23/20 with SBK

Breakthrough in first half

It took Arsenal until the 89th minute to break Everton’s resistance on Saturday.

Needless to say, everyone associated with the club will hope for a less stressful evening when Bayer Leverkusen come to town.

Although they often control games early on, Arsenal only occasionally score in the first 30 minutes of home games. 

In the Premier League, they have found the net just four times at the Emirates in the first half an hour, compared to eight times between minutes 31 and 45. 

It is likely to be around that time that Arsenal break the deadlock against Leverkusen.

Tip the first goal to be between the 31st and 40th minutes at 13/2 with Betfred

Saka to make mark

Despite Dowman’s heroics off the bench against Everton, he will not start on Tuesday.

Arteta will probably go for a front four of Bukayo Saka, Ebere Eze, Gabriel Martinelli and Gyokeres, but perhaps only Saka is guaranteed a place in the XI.

The England international is not having his most productive season in terms of goals, but he remains one of the first names on the Arsenal team sheet.

Saka will no doubt make an impact against Bayer Leverkusen, and the odds on him finding the net are appealing.

Go for Bukayo Saka to score any time at 7/5 with bet365

Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen predicted lineups

• Arsenal expected lineup: Raya; Mosquera, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Eze, Martinelli; Gyokeres.
• Bayer Leverkusen expected lineup: Blaswich; Andrich, Quansah, Tapsoba; Poku, Fernandez, Palacios, Grimaldo; Maza, Terrier; Kofane.

Where to watch Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen

• Location: Emirates Stadium, London, England.
• Date and time: Tuesday 17th March, 8pm.
• How to watch: TNT Sports 1.

More Champions League predictions

We have plenty more Champions League predictions and picks – find our latest betting tips from expert punters in our match preview overview.

About the author

Greg Lea

Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.

Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball

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