Live from BayArena 

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Arsenal have been accused of looking nervous numerous times in recent months – sometimes unjustifiably so – but the jitters were certainly there at times at the BayArena on Wednesday evening. The Gunners were huge favourites to beat Bayer Leverkusen in their Champions League round of 16 first leg tie. It was expected to be a comfortable night. However, the game finished 1-1 after a lacklustre performance from the visitors.

In the early parts of the game, the Bundesliga side’s young forward Christian Kofane caused problems for Gabriel and William Saliba, but it was Arsenal who would come closest to breaking the deadlock, as Gabriel Martinelli thundered a shot against the bar after some fantastic build up play. Piero Hincapié was denied by keeper Janis Blaswich moments later. But as the half continued, Arsenal’s tempo slowed, and we went into the break goal-less.

Shortly after the break, Arsenal – who are so often huge threats themselves from set-pieces – were undone by a corner. They looked all over the place as Robert Andrich headed in unmarked at the back post. And for much of the second half, creativity was Arsenal’s kryptonite. Until a late penalty, won by Noni Madueke, and converted with great composure by Kai Havertz, meant the Gunners took a share of the spoils. The German made an impact from the bench against his former side.

Mikel Arteta’s team do nevertheless remain huge favourites in the tie. This is also the latest in a season that Arsenal have ever still been able to feasibly win all four trophies: Champions League, Premier League, FA Cup and EFL Cup. However, after the game, Arteta revealed that he was very disappointed with his team’s initial reaction to the second half, in which the Gunners were opened up from kick off. “We wanted to start strong in the second half and we did completely the opposite,” said a frustrated Arteta.

“We knew they had certain routines there, they done it three times in-a-row in the Bundesliga and we showed those images, but then actually you have to see it and do it, and we haven’t and we’ve paid the price for it.” The penalty was the decisive moment of the game but it didn’t go down well with everybody. “For me it’s not a penalty”, said Leverkusen manager Kasper Hjulmand after the game. He was also seen speaking to the Arsenal set-piece coach Nicolas Jover after the German’s team’s goal from a corner in an altercation by the dugouts.

“I said to him is it actually in the rules that you can bodycheck the players?” said Hjulmand with a smirk on his face. Set-pieces was the butt of Leverkusen’s social media team’s jokes before the game, as they made a sign saying ‘no corners allowed’. So, the irony was there for all to see when the two pivotal moments of the game were both set-pieces.