Havertz's late equalizing spot-kick sees Arsenal snatch victory from Leverkusen

Bayer Leverkusen came within minutes of an ideal first-leg result in their Champions League last-16 clash with Arsenal this evening. In the end, Robert Andrich's goal was cancelled out by a late Kai Havertz penalty in a 1-1 stalemate.

With the visitors bossing possession inside the first quarter of an hour, Leverkusen remained largely unscathed barring Robin Andrich being hit with a yellow card for wrestling Viktor Gyökeres to the ground near the penalty box. 

Christian Kofane kept the Arsenal defence honest with his desire, but the London side came within the width of the post from taking the lead – a swift move culminated in Gabriel Martinelli's effort rattling off the aluminum. 

In what would ultimately be a scoreless first half, Leverkusen stuck to their defensive tasks diligently to keep Arsenal's threats at bay. Aside from a couple of speculative Ibrahim Maza efforts, the hosts rarely troubled David Raya. 

If the first-half was perhaps a bit dull, after the break things burst to life inside seconds. An in swinging corner from Alejandro Grimaldo to the far post found Andrich. The captain left in acres of space to head in for a precious 1-0 lead. 

Arsenal struggled to muster much of a reply until the hour mark. A Declan Rice free-kick was met by ex-Leverkusen defender Hincapié, but ultimately rolled wide of the post. Shortly after, Noni Madueke replaced a quiet Bukayo Saka.

With less than 20 minutes left on the clock, Arsenal called upon another ex-Bayer star in Kai Havertz. Leverkusen had another fine chance created by the electric Kofane on the break – Aleix Garcia's effort was beyond wayward.

Perhaps almost poetically, Havertz would get his dream return to the BayArena. Tillman made contact with Madueke in the box resulting in a penalty. Up stepped the 26-year-old to squeeze the spot kick past Blaswich's fingers and secure a draw in the Rhineland.