Bayer Leverkusen 1-1 Arsenal: Havertz saves Gunners against his former club
Arsenal take a draw back to the Emirates
Kai Havertz came off the bench to rescue Arsenal as their perfect Champions League record came to an end in Leverkusen.
The Gunners were flat throughout and had a taste of their own medicine when they conceded from an inswinging corner at the start of the second half.
But after Noni Madueke won an 89th-minute penalty with a driving run, fellow substitute Havertz stepped up to convert.
The Germany international did not celebrate against the side he spent a decade playing for before joining Chelsea, but his goal could yet be crucial in this tie.
Gabriel Martinelli hit the crossbar after a lovely counter in Arsenal’s best attack but they could only manage two shots on target all night as Leverkusen restricted them to just three corners.
The home side grew in confidence and took the lead at the start of the second half.
Martin Terrier was denied by David Raya just 10 seconds after the restart but from the following corner Robert Andrich headed powerfully in.
Andrich was arguably lucky to have still been on the pitch, earning a booking in the opening seconds for pulling down Viktor Gyokeres after the Sweden international had rolled him on the edge of the box.
Moments later Andrich body-checked Gyokeres near the touchline but escaped a second yellow from referee Halil Umut Meler.
Arsenal won all eight games in the league phase but were far from their best and looked set to continue a poor midweek for Premier League sides thus far.
Madueke added a spark though, and after he was checked by Malik Tillman Havertz kept his cool to score a vital goal.
Arsenal or Leverkusen will face Bodo/Glimt or Sporting in the quarter-finals.
The Champions League draw
The draw for the Champions League quarter-finals is:
Paris Saint-Germain or Chelsea v Galatasaray or Liverpool
Real Madrid or Manchester City v Atalanta or Bayern Munich
Newcastle or Barcelona v Atletico Madrid or Tottenham
Bodo/Glimt or Sporting CP v Bayer Leverkusen v Arsenal
The draw for the Champions League semi-finals is:
Silver path: PSG/Chelsea/Galatasaray/Liverpool v Real Madrid/Manchester City/Atalanta/Bayern Munich
Blue path: Newcastle/Barcelona/Atlético Madrid/Tottenham v Bodo/Sporting CP/Bayer Leverkusen/Arsenal