Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal LIVE as Mikel Arteta makes 10 changes for Champions League tie

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Arsenal take on Bayer Leverkusen in the last-16 of the UEFA Champions League at the BayArena. The Gunners won all of their eight league phase matches to both set up this meeting with Kai Havertz and Piero Hincapie’s old club, and to grant them the boost of playing the second leg of every knockout match at home.

This means the away leg is up first. Bayer 04 made it to this stage of the competition after beating Olympiacos in a knockout round, and it is the first time the aforementioned Havertz will return to face his former side.

Mikel Arteta said pre-match that there is no room for mistakes at this stage of the competition, which will see his Arsenal side looking to win the tournament for the first time in their history. He welcomes back Ben White to the travelling group, with both Riccardo Calafiori and Leandro Trossard also confirmed to have made the trip.

Tom Canton, our Arsenal reporter, will keep you up to date with all the build-up, match commentary and reaction live from Germany and the BayArena. Updates to follow…

16:31Tom Canton

Arsenal team confirmed

Starting XI: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie, Zubimendi, Rice, Eze, Saka, Martinelli, Gyokeres.

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Ranson, White, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Mosquera, Salmon, Norgaard, Madueke, Dowman, Havertz, Jesus.

16:30Tom Canton

Every word Mikel Arteta said on Bayer Leverkusen, injury updates, trophy hopes and rotation

Mikel Arteta spoke to the media ahead of his Arsenal side’s clash with Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League last-16. The Gunners travel to the BayArena looking to secure a strong result in the first leg before returning to the Emirates Stadium next week.

There are big expectations on Arsenal and Mikel Arteta, with the competition shaping up nicely for the Premier League leaders. Arteta confirmed that he has welcomed back several players to the squad, with decisions still to be made on some and on how long they can feature for.

The schedule is starting to get to the business end of the campaign, and Arteta needs to keep his side fit. There was naturally attention on the plans to maximise the broader numbers of his squad over these next two-plus months.

Article continues here.

16:30Tom Canton

Why both Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri could leave Arsenal in summer transfer window

There is a possibility that both Myles Lewis-Skelly and Ethan Nwaneri could leave Arsenal this summer transfer window. Less than 12 months ago, the pair were in discussions over new deals, which they would indeed sign.

Both academy graduates committed their futures to the club, locking in two of the country's most highly regarded young starlets. Yet fast-forward to three months into 2026 and the scenario could not be more different.

Lewis-Skelly has made a total of 26 appearances this season but has earned just over 300 minutes of action in the Premier League. The 19-year-old broke into the side last season, ousting Oleksandr Zinchenko from the number two left-back slot and exploiting the lack of availability of Riccardo Calafiori.

Article continues here.

16:30Tom Canton

Arsenal line-ups vs Leverkusen decided as 10 changes made amid Martinelli disagreement

Arsenal are looking to put one foot in the quarter-finals when they travel to Bayer Leverkusen for the Champions League Round of 16 on Wednesday evening.

Mikel Arteta certainly has plenty to ponder where his starting XI is concerned because the big games keep on coming for the Gunners.

They can move 10 points clear of Manchester City in the Premier League on Saturday against Everton and they also host Leverkusen in the second leg next week before facing City in the Carabao Cup final.

But Arteta surely has to go strong in Germany and football.london reporters Tom Canton and Ryan Taylor have had their stab at selecting the Arsenal XI they believe should take to the field at the BayArena. See who they picked here.