The two teams faced each other in the Champions League in 2001/02. The group stage tie against the Gunners produced a 1-1 draw in Leverkusen and a 4-1 defeat in London. The Black and Reds went on to reach the final that season with the Werkself losing 2-1 to Real Madrid.
The match at the Emirates Stadium brings a reunion for Bayer 04 with home-grown player Kai Havertz. The attacking player started in the Black and Red U13 squad, graduated to the first team and made his international debut before signing for Chelsea in the Premier League in 2020 after ten years under the Cross. He scored the winner for the Blues in the 2022 Champions League final. Last year he signed for London rivals Arsenal.
Werkself player Granit Xhaka is also set for a reunion with his former club. The Switzerland international was at the Gunners for seven years before his move to Bayer 04 in the summer of 2023. Ahead of today's match, the 31-year-old shared his thoughts with bayer04.de. The interview is HERE.
And there will also be a friendly reunion on the touchline. Bayer 04 head coach Xabi Alonso and Gunners coach Mikel Arteta know each other well as both grew up in San Sebastian and played together in the youth set-up at the Basque club Antiguoko and later for the Spain U21 team. Last season, ahead of the quarter-final exit in the Champions League Arteta congratulated his "good friend Xabi" and former player Granit Xhaka on winning the Bundesliga title.
The match with the Premier League runners-up provides another test for the Werkself. Arsenal had the best defence in the Premier League last term conceding just 29 goals in 38 games and they had the second best attack with 91 goals scored with Manchester City (96) top. The London club has again strengthened their already high quality defence: The Italy international Riccardo Calafiori, who was one of the outstanding players at Euro 2024, recently joined Arsenal from Bologna. Further information on the Gunners can be found in our lowdown on the next opponents.
Directions, food and drink, contacts and more: The Bayer 04 Fan Liaison team has put together information for the friendly against Arsenal the Werkself fans travelling to London. Click HERE for the fan information.
The friendly will be streamed live on the Bayer 04 app as well as on the club YouTube channel and on Werkself TV. The match will also be broadcast live by ServusTV and DF1. In addition, you can keep up-to-date with the latest action via the Bayer 04 live text updates. Werkself Radio is not broadcasting tonight.
.
The Werkself are away to SC Freiburg on Bundesliga Matchday 32. The penultimate away game of the season is today Sunday, 4 May with a 17:30 CEST kick-off at the Europa Park Stadion. Read on for the latest information in today's matchday news.
Show more
Bayer 04 Women claimed victory in their final home game of the season after Cornelia Kramer’s goal first-half proved the difference against RB Leipzig. Her 11th of the campaign also saw the Werkself extend their club record in the first division to 43 points with one match still to play. Three players were given a send-off before the game as they leave for pastures new.
Show more
Could this be the year that Freiburg finally get into the Champions League. They have come close a number of times in recent seasons, but a run of three straight wins has put the Black Forest club in pole position for a historic achievement ahead of Sunday’s Matchday 32 encounter with the Werkself. Here’s all you need to know about our next opponents.
Show more
Charlotte Voll has agreed a two-year extension to her contract at Bayer 04 Leverkusen. The 26-year-old keeper now has a contract to 30 June 2027. The Karlsruhe-born goalkeeper joined the Werkself in the summer of 2023.
Show more
