Werkself knocked out after 2-0 defeat in second leg at Arsenal

Head coach Kasper Hjulmand kept faith with the team that started in the 1-1 draw in the first leg at the BayArena a week ago.

arsenal pressure results in goal

As expected, it was a hard-fought contest from the off in North London, with both teams showing high concentration and anxious to avoid mistakes. The first notable chance fell to the hosts, but Gabriel's header from a right-wing corner missed the target (9'). A quarter of an hour was played when Janis Blaswich saved Leandro Trossard's powerful effort, which was heading for the corner of the net. Six minutes later, Gabriel again headed wide. Blaswich was kept busy as the hosts increasingly pressed for the first goal, showing outstanding feet to deny both Trossard (29') and Ben White (32').

However, the in-form Leverkusen keeper was powerless in the 36th minute, when Eberechi Eze fired a half-volley into the corner of the net from the edge of the box. Even after the goal, the Werkself found it difficult to break free from the Arsenal pressure and launch their own attacks, and so they went in a goal down at the break.

Rice increases lead - werkself fight to the end

The Werkself battled on in the second half and had significantly more possession now, but still couldn't find the crucial gaps in the Gunners' defence. Hjulmand brought Montrell Culbreath and Malik Tillman into the attack in the 59th minute, but it was the hosts who created the next big opportunities. Viktor Gyökeres missed his but Declan Rice made it 2-0 moments later, curling the ball into the bottom right corner (63'). Mikel Arteta also turned to his bench now, bringing on Kai Havertz among others. The ex-Leverkusen man found the net straight away but the goal was chalked off because of a handball by the Germany international beforehand (71').

The Werkself didn't lose heart and tried everything in the closing stages. Gabriel nearly headed a corner from Alejandro Grimaldo into his own net (74'), before Jarell Quansah headed wide from Culbreath's well-timed cross (77'). The best chance fell to Christian Kofane when he was set up by Culbreath in the 87th minute, but Arsenal custodian David Raya stopped it with his fingertips. It finished 2-0 and Bayer 04 exited the Champions League.

next up: trip to heidenheim

The Werkself are away to Heidenheim this Saturday, 21 March (kick-off 15:30 CET), on Bundesliga Matchday 27. After that there's an international break, when several Bayer 04 players will be heading off to their respective national teams.

Match stats:

Arsenal: Raya – White (Mosquera 68'), Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie – Rice, Zubimendi (Norgaard 68')– Saka, Eze (Havertz 68'), Trossard (Martinelli 68') – Gyökeres (Lewis-Skelly 49')

Bayer 04: Blaswich – Quansah, Andrich (Fernández 83'), Tapsoba – Poku (Culbreath 59'), Palacios (Schick 68'), Garcia, Grimaldo – Terrier (Tillman 59'), Maza – Kofane 

Yellow cards: Palacios

Goals: 1-0 Eze (36'), 2-0 Rice (63')

Referee: Danny Makkelie (Netherlands)

Attendance: 59,743 at Arsenal Stadium