Arsenal’s ambitious pursuit of a quadruple continues on Wednesday night when their Champions League campaign resumes, with Mikel Arteta’s side set to travel to Germany to take on Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of their round of 16 tie.
The Gunners find themselves in a position few before them have at this stage of a season; they sit seven points clear at the summit of the Premier League table with eight games remaining, into the FA Cup quarter-finals, in a League Cup final and in the knockout stages of Europe’s elite competition. Arteta is on the precipice of achieving something remarkable and unprecedented, and thus, it’s no surprise that Arsenal supporters are starting to dream.
However, before getting ahead of themselves, the North Londoners have to deal with a stern Leverkusen side. Although die Werkself have been raided for the core talent that led them to an invincible season in 2023/24, they remain a strong outfit capable of upsetting the best teams in Europe – just ask Manchester City.
With that said, here is a look at the key statistics heading into the tie, as well as the betting odds.
The quadruple dream is well and truly alive for Arsenal 🤩🏆 pic.twitter.com/T1W35AYyBf
— LiveScore (@livescore) March 7, 2026
Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal key statistics
While Arsenal ride high at the top of their league, Leverkusen are amongst the pack chasing a Champions League place for next term in their own. Kasper Hjulmand’s team currently sit sixth in the Bundesliga, three points behind Stuttgart in fourth.
Here are some of the key stats and facts heading into the clash at the BayArena on Wednesday night:
- Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen have only met twice before in competitive competitions. Both came in the 2001/02 season, when the two sides were drawn in the same Champions League group. The Gunners were held in Germany before comfortably winning the return fixture at Highbury 4-1.
- Arsenal are looking to reach the quarter-final stage of the Champions League for the third season in a row. This would be the first time since they have managed this feat since they did so between 2008 and 2010.
- Leverkusen are looking to reach the last eight of Europe’s most prodigious competition for the first time since they went all the way to the final in 2001/02.
- This season, Arsenal became the first team in the Champions League’s new league phase format’s history to win all eight of their games in the initial stage of the competition.
Arsenal become the first team to finish the league phase with a 100% record 😤#UCL pic.twitter.com/wcuQqZPEf6
— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) January 28, 2026
- Arsenal boasted the best expected goals difference of any team in the league phase, while they also currently have the best xG difference in the Premier League.
- Leverkusen have the third-best xG difference in the Bundesliga, behind Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund, while they have the second-lowest xG against in the German top flight.
- Opta Analyst have Arsenal’s chances of progressing past Leverkusen at 86.7%, while the Gunners are tipped at 26.7% to win the entire competition.
- Opta Analyst have Leverkusen’s chances of winning the Champions League at just 0.5%, with only Galatasaray deemed more unlikely to claim the silverware.
Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal betting odds
Arsenal are heavy favourites to emerge from Western Germany victorious on Wednesday night. Given the plethora of quality options Arteta has at his disposal, and Leverkusen’s comparatively weak squad, it’s no surprise that the Gunners are heavily favoured in this one.
The North London outfit are currently priced at 4/7 to win the first leg, according to a number of major bookmakers. A draw is available at 16/5, while a Leverkusen victory is priced at 9/2.
In the anytime goalscorer market, Viktor Gyokeres is listed at 6/4, while Bukayo Saka is priced at 14/5. For Leverkusen, Patrick Schick is considered their most likely scorer and is available at 16/5.
In the qualification market, Arsenal are heavy favourites to reach the quarter-finals, with their odds currently standing at 1/8.
