Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal predictions and betting tips – Will Gunners maintain 100 percent record?

Arsenal have won eight matches out of eight in the Champions League so far this season. That record earned them top spot in the league phase, but that achievement means little now we are in the knockout rounds.

Will Mikel Arteta’s team triumph at the BayArena in the first leg of this last-16 tie, or will Bayer Leverkusen pull off a surprise win?

• Arsenal to win to nil – 7/5 with SBK
• Under 2.5 goals – 20/21 with BoyleSports
• Ebere Eze to score any time – 21/10 with BetMGM

Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal odds

Find the latest Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal betting odds here. All odds are provided by our recommended football bookmakers and are subject to change.

Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal predictions

Having finished as Premier League runners-up for three consecutive seasons, Arsenal fans are desperate to see their side finally get over the line this term.

For most supporters, the title is the priority. But there is a section of the Emirates Stadium faithful that would prefer to see their team go all the way in the Champions League.

Arsenal are probably the biggest club in Europe to have never before been crowned kings of the continent. They have only ever reached one final, losing to Barcelona in 2006.

To elevate the club to the next level, a maiden Champions League triumph would be more significant than a 14th league title.

Of course, Mikel Arteta’s men do not necessarily have to choose between the two prizes. In fact, Arsenal are in the running for four trophies this term.

The Gunners are top of the Premier League and favourites for the title ahead of Manchester City, whom they will face in the final of the EFL Cup later this month. 

Meanwhile, Arsenal progressed to the quarter-finals of the FA Cup at the weekend with a 2-1 triumph over Mansfield Town.

They are now ready to turn their attention back to the Champions League, where only 15 other sides are still standing.

“We are really excited,” Arteta said after the draw for the round of 16 last month. “Fighting on four fronts and the way the team is consistently performing gives us a lot of hope and positive thoughts about what is coming. But we can only focus on the present.

“I focus a lot on what we have to do to continue in the manner and the trajectory that we are as a team, and from there, obviously try to improve.”

Arteta’s men finished top of the league phase with eight wins out of eight. In part because of that and in part because they have ended up on what looks like the easier side of the draw, Arsenal are favourites to win the tournament with the bookies.

Bayer Leverkusen are out to stop them. After finishing 16th in the league phase, the German outfit beat Olympiacos 2-0 on aggregate in the knockout phase play-offs.

They have been inconsistent since the turn of the year and currently sit sixth in the Bundesliga, but Kasper Hjulmand’s team are capable of making life difficult for Arsenal if they turn up on Wednesday.

Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal betting tips

Bayer Leverkusen and Arsenal are ready to go head-to-head in the Champions League.

Clean sheet for Gunners

Bayer Leverkusen scored three goals at the weekend, but even that was not enough to see them past Freiburg. A 3-3 draw leaves them outside the Champions League spots in the Bundesliga.

Leverkusen’s attack certainly did the business last time out, but in four of their previous five league outings, Hjulmand’s side scored one or zero goals.

Arsenal are the best defensive team in Europe right now. In eight league phase matches, they conceded just four goals.

Arteta’s charges will be tough to break down on Wednesday, with the manager likely to prioritise a clean sheet above all else.

Arsenal can win this one without having their backline breached.

Select Arsenal to win to nil at 7/5 with SBK

Goals unlikely to flow

Bayer Leverkusen may have been involved in a six-goal thriller on Saturday, but we are unlikely to see quite as many goals when they face Arsenal.

As mentioned above, the Premier League leaders will be aiming to deliver a controlled, measured performance at the BayArena.

Arsenal will not take too many risks in or out of possession, and Leverkusen will find it difficult to break their opponents down.

With a second leg still to come, neither team will go full pelt on Wednesday. Two goals is probably the most we will see.

Choose under 2.5 goals at 20/21 with BoyleSports

Eze on target?

With Martin Odegaard sidelined until after the March international break, Ebere Eze will be a regular in the starting XI over the next few weeks.

The England international played his way back into contention with a brace against Tottenham Hotspur last month, and he was on the scoresheet again at Mansfield Town on Saturday.

Eze is an off-the-cuff player who can produce moments of magic in the final third. He is not as much of a systems player as Odegaard, whom Arteta often prefers, but there is no doubting Eze’s quality.

The former Crystal Palace man can score his first ever Champions League goal this week.

Choose Ebere Eze to score any time at 21/10 with BetMGM

Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal predicted lineups

• Bayer Leverkusen expected lineup: Blaswich; Quansah, Andrich, Tapsoba; Poku, Fernandez, Garcia, Grimaldo; Terrier, Kofane, Maza.
• Arsenal expected lineup: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice; Saka, Eze, Trossard; Gyokeres.

Where to watch Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal

• Location: BayArena, Leverkusen, Germany.
• Date and time: Wednesday 11th March, 5.45pm.
• How to watch: TNT Sports 3.

More Champions League predictions

We have plenty more Champions League predictions and picks – find our latest betting tips from expert punters in our match preview overview.

About the author

Greg Lea

Greg Lea is a freelance football writer from London. He predominantly covers the Premier League and has had work published by the Guardian, FourFourTwo, ESPN and others.

Follow Greg on X: @GregLeaFootball

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