Nine players set to miss Arsenal vs Leverkusen Champions League second leg with tie on knife edge

Bayer Leverkusen stand in Arsenal's way of the Champions League quarter-finals

Arsenal are looking to continue their involvement in all four major competitions when they host Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League.

The Round of 16 tie is finely poised with the scores level at 1-1 after Kai Havertz's equaliser against his former club last week. The Germany international cancelled out Robert Andrich's second-half opener in controversial circumstances as a challenge on Noni Madueke was penalised.

Since then, Arsenal have opened up a nine-point gap at the top of the Premier League and will hold that advantage for at least two weeks as their participation in the top-flight is on hold before the international break. Viktor Gyokeres and Max Dowman were on target to help Mikel Arteta's side take a huge step towards returning to the summit of English football but their attention turns to Europe on Tuesday.

Kasper Hjulmand's side visit North London looking to pull off a shock and stun the Premier League leaders, denying them a place in the quarter-finals. Leverkusen were involved in an incident-filled draw with German giants Bayern Munich on Saturday which saw on-loan Chelsea striker Nicolas Jackson, former Liverpool winger Luis Diaz sent off and three goals chalked off by VAR - including a 93rd minute would-be winner from Jonas Hofmann.

Although Arsenal had to overcome hardship of their own against Everton on Saturday, it wasn't without incident either. William Saliba went down with a head injury midway through the second half but fought on until the final whistle in a monumental victory.

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However in the first-half, Jurrien Timber added to Arsenal's list of injury woes. The Dutch full-back went down inside 20 minutes after a collision with Illiman Ndiaye receiving treatment on his right ankle, it proved to be significant enough to force him off just before half-time.

The knock will see him as a doubt for the encounter with Leverkusen tomorrow. He is joined by Mikel Merino, who is confirmed absent as he recovers from an ankle injury after being forced to undergo surgery.

Martin Odegaard and Leandro Trossard are also doubts having missed the win over Everton on Saturday. Odegaard was spotted watching on from the stands as he eyes full recovery from a niggling knee injury.

In his programme notes, he said: "I’m desperate to get back to playing as soon as I can. It’s been difficult for me with the knee injury lately, but I’m working as hard as I can to get back to full fitness now.

"The main thing is to be 100% again, and make sure I can properly help the team."

Trossard was also an absentee on Saturday after being forced off with an upper leg/hip injury in the first-half of their FA Cup win over Mansfield Town.

Arteta said that the pair are under close consideration and continue to be monitored.

The Bundesliga side face a number of injury problems ahead of their trip to the Emirates Stadium.

Elisse Ben Seghir, former Brentford goalkeeper Mark Flekken, Loic Bade, Lucas Vasquez and Arthur are among the list of potential absentees.

Ben Seghir and Flekken have missed the last 15 matches after picking up an ankle and ligament injury, respectively.

A hamstring injury will limit Bade's involvement while Vasquez has been hampered by a calf injury. Arthur has missed the last four matches after being forced off in the second half against Mainz with a ligament tear.

Martin Terrier was forced off against Bayern Munich after the horror tackle from Jackson and faces a race to be fit for the trip to Arsenal.