Mikel Arteta does not subscribe to the theory that Arsenal have done the hard work against Bayer Leverkusen and that the second leg of their Champions League clash will be a formality.
Kai Havertz’s late penalty handed the Gunners a 1-1 draw in Germany last week, putting them in pole position to advance to the quarter-finals when they resume hostilities at the Emirates tomorrow night.
Arsenal come into the game having squeezed past Everton at the weekend thanks to two late goals, while Leverkusen drew 1-1 at home to a Bayern Munich side that finished with nine men.
Arteta said: ”Watching them play against Bayern Munich at the weekend… really well coached, clear structure. We know what we have to do in front of our crowd. Hopefully we are going to do it.
“A lot of factors will contribute for us to be in the quarter-finals. We need to have every element in our favour to achieve that.”
Max Dowman was the headline act for Arsenal on Saturday, his introduction as a late substitute for Martin Zubimendi changing the course of the game. The 16-year-old created the opener for Viktor Gyokeres and added the second himself as Arsenal won 2-0.
There has been a lot of hype about Dowman in the subsequent days but Arteta is confident the teenager has the right influences around him.
“The most important one is his family, he’s in a very good place there as well,” said the Spaniard. “He is used to a lot of things, he takes it normally and knows what the sport is about.”
The goals against Everton, and the timing of them, led to wild celebrations from the bench and in the stands and Arteta said it was a special feeling.
“I love those moments,” he said. “When the team needs help, in anyway we can contribute, give them energy, we have to be there.
“We notice immediately the atmosphere changed and the players changed immediately and we managed to win the game.”
Team news for Arsenal v Bayer Leverkusen
Jurrien Timber and Martin Odegaard remain sidelined for Arsenal, although Arteta hopes they will both be back for Sunday’s EFL Cup final against Manchester City. Ben White is set to start at right-back while winger Leandro Trossard is fit again and will likely start on the bench. Mikel Merino is still out.
Mark Flekken, Loic Bade, Arthur, Lucas Vazquez and Eliesse Ben Seghir are not available for Leverkusen but Alejandro Grimaldo will return from a domestic ban. Aleix Garcia and Martin Terrier both suffered knocks at the weekend and will be assessed in the build-up.
