LONDON: Premier League leaders Arsenal, who have never been crowned European champions, remain on track for four trophies this season as they chase their first major silverware since 2020.
Mikel Arteta’s men won all eight matches in the league phase to cruise into the last 16, where success against Leverkusen will set up a tie against Bodo/Glimt or Sporting.
Central defender William Saliba has missed Arsenal’s past two matches with an ankle issue but could be back here.
Currently sixth in the Bundesliga, Leverkusen are still rebuilding after a tumultuous summer in which they lost coach Xabi Alonso and several players including Florian Wirtz, Granit Xhaka and new Gunner Piero Hincapie.
“We’re strong at home. We have a chance there – we can win there,” Alejandro Grimaldo said Saturday.
Remarkably, Leverkusen’s win against Olympiacos in the play-off round was their first victory in a Champions League knockout tie since 2002, when they reached the final before losing to a Zinedine Zidane-inspired Real Madrid.
