Two wonder-goals give Arsenal a comfortable win

Arsenal is not only doing great in England, they are doing great in Europe too. The Gunners are in top form and were the only English team at the start of this week who were clear favorites to advance to the quarterfinals of the Champions League. Chelsea and Manchester City are out, while Liverpool and Newcastle have some chance, but Mikel Arteta’s men had no problem winning against Bayer Leverkusen at the Emirates and they did it in style, with two beautiful goals from Eze and Rice: Arsenal – Bayer 2-0.

Unlike some other games during the season, the Gunners had no problem creating chances in this one, but the lack of concentration and the Leverkusen keeper are the reasons why the score was only 2-0. Eberechi Eze is the second English player to score for Arsenal in the Premier League, League Cup, FA Cup and Champions League in the same season, after Theo Walcott in 2012/13 and the former Palace forward scored his best goal in career so far. Decklan Rice added the second, which was not so stunning, but was a precise and beautiful nevertheless. Saka, Gabriel and Trossard should have been the other scorers in a match which Arsenal controlled from start to finish, but also didn’t face much opposition from the guests. Now they will face Sporting who made a miracle and overcame the 3-0 deficit, winning 5-0 against Bodo in overtime.

Arsenal fans were thrilled when the first half finished, as their team had a 1-0 advantage thanks to a stunner from Eze. But Arsenal coach and players went into the locker room annoyed by the fact that they missed so many good opportunities. Gabriel missed two chances from a corner, Ben White missed an open goal, Leandro Trossard could have had a hat-trick. But Eberechi Eze's stunning strike was the only difference during the first 45 minutes. Many critiques (who are not Arsenal fans btw) were moaning about Arsenal’s style of play and lack of creativity, but tonight the Gunners were excellent in the first half and if it wasn’t for Bayer keeper Janis Blaswich, the score would have been higher. The 34-year old had two magnificent saves, both to Trossard (16th and 29th minute), while other Gunners were simply not concentrated enough (Gabriel, White). But he was helpless in the 36th minute, when Eberechi Eze scored his first Champions League goal. And what a goal it was! Trossard punched a pass into Eze and he was dead centre of the goal, 20 meters out. He took one look and smashed a volley past the Leverkusen goalkeeper, who had no chance.

Arsenal was not as creative in the second half as they were in the first, and Arteta was looking for the second goal which would certainly kill the game, but there were a lack of chances. Not that Leverkusen played great or created chances, but with the score only 1-0, uncertainty started to creep in. And then came Decklan Rice with a fantastic shot which first looked like going near the post and even tricked Blaswich, and then came back and went straight into the net. The game was over at that point, and the last half an hour just passed in Arsenal’s control of the match.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - ROUND OF 16

Return leg

Tuesday

Sporting - Bodo 5-0 (1-0) AET

/Ignacio 34, Goncalves 61, Suarez 78(p), Araujo 92, Nel 120+1/

Arsenal - Leverkusen 2-0 (1-0)

/Eze 36, Rice 63/

Chelsea - PSG 0-3 (0-2)

/Kvaratskhelia 6, Barcola 14, Mayulu 62/

Manchester City - Real Madrid 1-2 (1-1)

/Haaland 41 - Vinicius 22(p), 90+3/

Wednesday

20.45: (1.57) Barcelona (4.65) Newcastle (5.00)

23.00: (1.35) Bayern (5.30) Atalanta (8.00)

23.00: (1.30) Liverpool (6.10) Galatasaray (8.50)

23.00: (2.60) Tottenham (3.75) Atl.Madrid (2.65)

***odds are subject to change***