After the exits of both Chelsea and Manchester City on Tuesday night and the prospect of further Premier League clubs being dumped out of Europe 24 hours later, there were at least reasons to be cheerful if you are an Arsenal fan.
Not only because two of your domestic rivals have seen their names removed from the Champions League bracket but because the Gunners finally earned safe passage to the last eight. Bayer Leverkusen brushed aside at the Emirates after suffering a 2-0 second leg defeat.
The German side arguably the better in the first leg of this Round of 16 tie, Mikel Arteta’s men with something of a lucky escape when Kai Havertz’ penalty restored parity late on. Arsenal needing no such luck in the return leg.
On the front foot from the off, the Premier League leaders called the Leverkusen goalkeeper Janis Blawich into action early on. Twice the 34-year-old had to make notable saves to keep the scores in the tie level. A bright start from his perspective, his lights turned out nine minutes before the break.
Step forward Eberechi Eze. The former Crystal Palace midfielder is not a guaranteed starter for Arsenal but there is no doubt that he is starting to earn more of manager Mikel Arteta’s trust – trust that will only increase after Tuesday’s performance.
Eze is certainly the man for the big occasions and they do not get much bigger than Champions League outings. The 27-year-old given time and space on the edge of the Bayer Leverkusen box, something that now looks like a huge mistake from the German outfit.
The England international teed up the ball and let fly a stunning half volley. Blawich left stranded in between the posts, not even a second goalkeeper could have stopped Eze’s effort. Arsenal ahead on the night, ahead in the tie for the first time.
A goal that felt like a watershed moment within the context of the tie and now that Arsenal had their noses in front, they never looked like being pulled back. A point reinforced by Declan Rice in the 63rd minute of the game.
No let up in terms of intensity from the Gunners in the second half and Rice was on hand to fire home. European progress to the last eight now all but secured, Arsenal doing what they do best from here in on – locking up the shop and completing the formalities.
Admittedly, this tie was never going to be a formality but Arsenal were still considered favourites and the same will be said for their last eight clash with Sporting – who themselves overturned a 3-0 first leg deficit to dump out Norwegian outfit Bodo/Glimt.
That side of the bracket far less daunting then the other. Arsenal will not only fancy their chances of winning a first Premier League title in 22 years but also getting their hands on a first ever Champions League crown. Before any of that, they meet arch rivals Manchester City in Sunday’s Carabao Cup final. Could this be the first part of the quadruple?
