Goal-Scoring Sensation! Zelalem Rakes In Three For Red Devils' Thrashing of Arsenal!
Arsenal 2-0 Bayer Leverkusen [3-1 agg]: Eze rocket inspires Gunners to reach Champions League quarters A ridiculous half-volley from Eberechi Eze inspired Arsenal to a 2-0 win against Bayer Leverkusen in the second leg of their round of 16 tie, winning 3-1 on aggregate to progress to the Champions League quarter finals. Eze broke the deadlock with an absolute rocket of a half-volley that seemed the only way to get past an otherwise imperious Janis Blaswich, who was kept busy and made six saves to keep out the first-half siege from Trossard and Bukayo Saka. Declan Rice doubled the Gunners’ advantage minutes after the hour mark with a calm finish into the bottom right, leaving little chance of a comeback as the hosts eventually cruised to their third Champions League quarter final in as many seasons.
As it happened A tight first 10 minutes with little to separate the sides saw William Saliba emphatically head away a looping cross in towards 19-year-old striker Christian Kofane, before he rose to head Saka’s corner on the right over at the near post. Moments after seeing his first effort of the game roll harmlessly wide, Leandro Trossard produced a fantastic save from Janus Blaswich with a rifled shot that seemed destined for the top left corner, doing well to shift the ball onto his right foot. Then came a first chance for Gabriel to head in another Saka corner on 21 minutes, but he couldn’t quite direct it on target.
Leverkusen were nearly masters of their own downfall when Jarrell Quansah handballed on the left edge of the penalty area to block Piero Hincapié’s cross, but 34-year-old Blaswich was on hand to beat Declan Rice’s effort on goal clear of trouble. The visitors were a threat on the counter-attack and got into the Arsenal penalty area after an incisive one-two between left wing-back Grimaldo and Ibrahim Maza in the left channel, but Hincapié was across in an instant to smother it behind. It seemed as though it would take something special to beat Blaswich after Saka took advantage of a mix up in Leverkusen’s left back position and saw his shot palmed wide by the German, and it would come six minutes after the half-hour mark.
Eze, presented with a clipped pass from Trossard out wide after Leverkusen lost the ball, deftly cushioned the ball, spun, and struck a rasping half-volley into the top left corner from 25 yards, sending the incredulous Emirates crowd into a frenzy. The former Crystal Palace man hadn’t managed to find the net in the Champions League leading up to a moment of absolute inspiration, one that seemed to leave Mikel Arteta’s men possessed – snapping forward whenever they regained the ball. Blaswich had pulled off yet another great stop and survived a melee right in front of goal that ensued from Trossard’s low drive, but he was powerless to stop an effort of that quality.
After Leverkusen let a clearance slip back into Arsenal’s hands once more, the German side’s hero of the first half standing between the sticks was rooted in place as Rice caressed the ball into the bottom right corner, having done well to control the bouncing ball. Substitute Kai Havertz thought for a moment that he had put the result beyond doubt tapping in a cut-back across goal, but referee Danny Makkelie ruled it out for the final touch coming off of his hand clenched to Malik Tillman’s shirt. David Raya was called into action to make a rare yet brilliant stop with his right glove to keep out Kofane and deny Leverkusen a much needed lifeline, with their hopes of taking the game to extra time fading fast.
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