Arsenal reached the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals after a 2-0 victory against German side Bayer Leverkusen at the Emirates Stadium, progressing 3-1 on aggregate.
Bayern Leverkusen somehow weathered a barrage of Arsenal pressure in the opening half an hour with keeper Janis Blaswich outstanding. However, Eberechi Eze’s thunderbolt from outside the area in the 37th minute put them in control in the last-16 tie.
Receiving a pass from Leandro Trossard outside the penalty area, Eze’s first touch set the ball up and after turning sweetly he lashed a right-footed shot into the roof of the net that visiting goalkeeper Janis Blaswich barely saw.
Arsenal defender Gabriel threatened twice with headers from trademark corners and Blaswich performed wonders to twice deny Trossard and also beat away a free kick by Rice.
The Gunners then gave themselves breathing space in the 63rd minute when Declan Rice burst onto a poor clearance, took a silky touch and drilled a low shot past Blaswich.
Arsenal stepped off the gas after that but easily contained Leverkusen, whose best chance came late on when Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya made a superb save from Christian Kofane’s side-footed effort.
As well as being clear leaders in the Premier League and in the Carabao final, Mikel Arteta’s team are also in the FA Cup quarter-finals and have now reached the business end of Europe’s elite competition with few teams relishing meeting them.
“I’m shattered, it’s non-stop,” Rice said as Arsenal are fighting in four competitions this season. “We’re in all the competitions still so it’s been every three days since October. We find ways to win and it’s all good.”
Arsenal face Manchester City in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final as they seek their first silverware since 2020.
Tuesday’s UEFA Champions League results
Sporting 5-0 Bodo/Glimt
Arsenal 2-0 Bayer Leverkusen
Chelsea 0-3 PSG
Manchester City 1-2 Real Madrid.