Leverkusen 1-1 Arsenal Player Ratings: Exequiel Palacios 8.2/10 Dominates as Havertz Penalty Rescues Arsenal at BayArena

A pulsating Champions League knockout tie saw Arsenal snatch a dramatic 1-1 draw against Bayer 04 Leverkusen at the BayArena. It was a classic European away performance, filled with grit, a little bit of luck, and a moment of ice-cool composure when it mattered most. The match was a real chess game, tactical and tense throughout.

Leverkusen looked to have secured a vital first-leg advantage. They broke the deadlock just after the restart. Robert Andrich rose highest from a corner to power a header home. From our perspective, Arsenal looked a bit rattled after conceding, but they didn't collapse. Instead, they dug in and started to push back.

What stood out to us was the resilience shown by the Gunners. Gabriel Martinelli was desperately unlucky not to equalize, his fierce shot cannoning back off the crossbar. Just as it seemed Leverkusen would see out the win, substitute Noni Madueke was brought down in the box. Kai Havertz, another substitute, stepped up and calmly converted the penalty, sending the away fans into raptures and leaving this match tied perfectly balanced. Here are Sportsdunia's Leverkusen vs Arsenal player ratings.

Arsenal Player Ratings vs Bayer 04 Leverkusen

Here are the Arsenal player ratings for the Leverkusen vs Arsenal UCL fixture.

Goalkeeper

David Raya - 6.5: Couldn't do much about the goal, a powerful header from close range. He made a crucial save from Terrier's header just before the goal which kept his team in it. His distribution was decent enough, completing 75% of his passes, but it wasn't his busiest night with only two saves made.

Defenders

William Saliba - 6.0: A somewhat subdued performance from the Frenchman. He made an uncharacteristic error that led to a shot, which is rare for him. While he won most of his duels, he didn't seem as commanding as usual. We noticed he was a little less proactive on the ball, which was surprising.

Piero Hincapié - 6.0: A strange one, listed as an Arsenal player but usually plays for the opposition. Based on his stats, he had a mixed evening. He forced a very good save from the keeper with a shot from the left side but also lost possession 12 times. It felt like he was trying to make an impact but it didn't quite come off.

Gabriel Magalhães - 7.0: The more solid of the two centre-backs. He was a rock, making five clearances and two blocked shots. He won his battles and read the game well, providing a calming presence at the back. A brief injury scare in the first half didn't seem to affect his solid display.

Jurriën Timber - 6.5: He'll be kicking himself for missing a big chance from close range late in the game. Defensively, he was solid, making a key interception and winning his only tackle. He got forward to support the attack, but the final ball wasn't always there. A decent, if frustrating, performance.

Midfielders

Bukayo Saka - 6.0: A very quiet night for the skipper, which was a real surprise to us. He struggled to get into the game and was withdrawn after just an hour. He lost possession 14 times and didn't create the usual danger we expect from him. A performance he'll want to move on from quickly.

Eberechi Eze - 6.5: He showed flashes of his quality, trying to link the midfield and attack. He created one chance and kept the ball moving with an 89% pass accuracy. However, he couldn't stamp his authority on the game and was substituted as Arsenal chased an equalizer.

Gabriel Martinelli - 7.5: Arsenal's brightest spark in attack. He was so unlucky to see his shot smash against the woodwork in the first half. He was a constant menace, creating a big chance and delivering some excellent crosses. The yellow card was the only downside to an otherwise energetic and threatening display.

Martín Zubimendi - 6.5: A tidy but unspectacular performance in the middle. He kept possession well but also picked up a booking for a lazy challenge. Defensively, he was sound, winning three aerial duels and making a couple of tackles and interceptions. Didn't quite run the game, though.

Declan Rice - 7.0: The metronome in the Arsenal midfield. His passing was almost flawless, with a 96% accuracy rate. He kept things simple and effective, recycling possession and linking play. It was a typically reliable and composed performance that provided the platform for others.

Forwards

Viktor Gyökeres - 6.0: It was a tough and thankless task for him up front. He was well-marshalled by the Leverkusen defence and struggled to get involved. He did create one chance but offered very little goal threat himself before being taken off. From our perspective, he looked isolated for large parts of the game.

Substitutes

Noni Madueke - 7.0: Came on for Bukayo Saka and made a decisive impact. His direct running and willingness to take on his man caused immediate problems. He won the crucial penalty with a clever run into the box. A game-changing substitution.

Kai Havertz - 7.5: The hero for Arsenal. He came on and showed nerves of steel to convert the late penalty. It was a moment of pure composure that rescued a vital draw for his team. His only contributions were the goal and a yellow card, but the goal was all that mattered.

Gabriel Jesus - N/A: Came on for Eberechi Eze with less than ten minutes to go and had little time to make an impact.

Manager

M. Arteta - 7.5: His initial game plan seemed a bit conservative, and his team struggled to create. However, his substitutions were absolutely perfect. Bringing on Madueke and Havertz completely changed the dynamic and salvaged a result from the jaws of defeat. Excellent in-game management.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen Player Ratings vs Arsenal

Check out the Bayer 04 Leverkusen player ratings vs Arsenal.

Goalkeeper

Janis Blaswich - 6.5: He had no chance with the penalty. Made a fantastic save to deny Piero Hincapié in the first half. His distribution was a bit erratic, but he was decisive in his box, making two important punches from crosses.

Defenders

Jarell Quansah - 6.0: A difficult evening for the defender. He struggled in his duels and seemed a bit overwhelmed by the occasion at times. He was steady on the ball but didn't provide the defensive security his team needed on that flank.

Robert Andrich - 7.5: A true captain's performance. He scored the opening goal with a thumping header and was a warrior at the back. Despite an early yellow card, he managed the game intelligently, making key clearances and interceptions.

Edmond Tapsoba - 6.5: A very solid defensive display. He was a wall, making five clearances and winning his tackles. His passing was a little loose at times, losing the ball on 15 occasions, but his primary job was to defend, and he did that very well.

Midfielders

Ernest Poku - 6.0: A challenging match for the midfielder. He struggled to make an impact, was dribbled past twice, and picked up a yellow card. He worked hard but was largely ineffective on and off the ball.

Alejandro Grimaldo - 8.0: Superb performance. His delivery from the corner for the goal was perfect. He created three chances, including a big one, and was a constant outlet on the left. Also strong defensively, winning four duels.

Aleix García - 7.0: Ran the show in the heart of midfield. His 92% pass accuracy shows how tidy he was in possession. He was the engine for his team, recovering the ball six times and always making himself available.

Exequiel Palacios - 8.5: Our man of the match, and the highest-rated player. An absolute monster in midfield. He was everywhere, making an incredible five interceptions and winning 7 of his 9 duels. He completely dominated the central areas, breaking up play and driving his team forward.

Forwards

Martin Terrier - 7.0: Looked very dangerous. His powerful header forced an excellent save from Raya just moments before Leverkusen scored. He was a lively presence, making key interceptions high up the pitch.

Ibrahim Maza - 6.5: A frustrating night for the young forward. He was full of energy and got into great positions, taking four shots, but his finishing was wayward. He lacked the composure to make the most of his opportunities.

Christian Kofane - 7.5: A constant thorn in Arsenal's side. He created three chances, and his dribbling was electric. He won numerous fouls and was a key part of Leverkusen's attacking threat. An exciting and highly effective performance from the attacker.

Substitutes

Malik Tillman - 5.0: A cameo to forget. He was brought on and, within minutes, had clumsily conceded the penalty that cost his team the win.

Ezequiél Fernández - N/A: Replaced the brilliant Exequiel Palacios late on and had little to do.

Jonas Hofmann - N/A: Brought on for the final few minutes to help see out the game.

Manager

K. Hjulmand - 6.5: He got his tactics spot on for 85 minutes. His side was organized, dangerous, and deserved their lead. However, his substitution of Tillman proved to be a fatal error, undoing all of their hard work.