Arsenal won all eight league phase games by an aggregate score of 23-4
Bayer Leverkusen have won just one of their last five matches
Recommended bet: Arsenal -1 handicap
Bayer Leverkusen have lost 10 of their last 12 Champions League round-of-16 matches and they face a tough task to improve that poor record against an Arsenal side who dominated the league phase of this competition.
The Gunners have won nine and drawn two of their last 11 games and are unbeaten in cup competitions this season after beating Mansfield 2-1 in the FA Cup on Saturday.
Mikel Arteta’s side are still fighting on four fronts and will fancy their chances against a Leverkusen side who are currently sixth in the Bundesliga, 22 points behind league leaders Bayern Munich.
Team news
Bayer Leverkusen have a number of injury concerns, with Loic Bade, Mark Flekken, Andre, Lucas Vazquez and Nathan Tella expected to miss this clash. Patrik Shick is also a major doubt.
Arsenal rotated for their win over Mansfield at the weekend but Leandro Trossard and Riccardo Calafiori did pick up knocks so they are doubts for this first leg, along with William Saliba.
Mikel Merino, Ben White and Martin Odegaard are expected to miss out through injury.
The stats
Arsenal scored at least three times in six of their eight league phase games.
Both teams to score has only landed in one of Bayer Leverkusen’s last seven Champions League matches.
The Gunners have only lost three games all season, all in the Premier League.
Mikel Arteta’s side are chasing the record set by Man City for most Champions League wins in a row (10).
The latest Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal odds are available on LiveScore Bet
Prediction
Arsenal have been in fine form this season and they should be far too strong for an injury-hit Bayer Leverkusen.
The German side have faced two of Europe’s elite this season, Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, and lost by an aggregate score of 10-2.
That is a big concern considering the fact that Arteta’s side beat Bayern Munich 3-1 in the league phase and finished 10 points clear of PSG.
The Gunners only conceded twice in the seven league phase games before their final dead rubber against Kairat and look far too strong for opponents who drew 3-3 with Freiburg in the Bundesliga at the weekend.
Arteta would love his side to put the tie to bed in the first leg with such a congested schedule coming up and they look a good bet to do so considering their success in Europe this season and the injury issues Leverkusen currently have.
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The latest Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal odds are available on LiveScore Bet
