Arsenal player ratings vs Bayer Leverkusen - Two Gunners stars get 8/10 in 2-0 victory

Arsenal FC progressed to the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League after securing a 2–0 victory over Bayer Leverkusen at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners had earlier been forced to settle for a 1–1 draw in the first leg at the BayArena, where a late penalty from Kai Havertz salvaged a crucial result.

However, goals in either half from Eberechi Eze and Declan Rice sealed the win in London and ensured Arsenal advanced to the last eight on aggregate.

Here is how we rate the performances of the Arsenal players following the important victory in front of their home supporters.

David Raya – 7.5/10

David Raya delivered an impressive performance between the posts for Arsenal, particularly in the closing stages of the match.

The former Brentford goalkeeper produced a superb late save to deny Christian Kofane, preserving his side’s advantage.

William Saliba – 6.5/10

William Saliba produced a composed display at the heart of the defence, showing his usual calmness on the ball.

The French defender also worked well alongside Gabriel Magalhães, helping maintain stability at the back.

Gabriel Magalhães – 7/10

Gabriel Magalhães delivered another commanding performance in defence against the threat of Christian Kofane.

The Brazilian centre-back dominated in the air, winning the majority of his aerial duels and ensuring Arsenal coped well with set-piece situations.

Ben White – 6/10

Ben White stepped in to replace the injured Jurrien Timber and delivered a fairly decent performance.

The former Brighton & Hove Albion defender combined well going forward with Bukayo Saka, offering support on the right flank.

However, he looked slightly vulnerable defensively at times, particularly when dealing with the movement of Leverkusen’s offensive players.

Piero Hincapié – 8/10

Piero Hincapié produced a solid performance against his former club, handling almost every attacking threat directed his way.

The Ecuadorian defender was also effective going forward, creating a big chance with an excellent delivery into the box, although the danger was eventually cleared by the German side.

Martin Zubimendi – 7/10

Martin Zubimendi delivered a composed display in midfield before being substituted.

The Spanish midfielder was tidy in possession and helped Arsenal maintain control in the middle of the park before making way for Christian Nørgaard.

Declan Rice – 8/10

Declan Rice was once again tireless in midfield, contributing strongly both defensively and in attack.

The former West Ham United midfielder capped off his performance with a neat and precise finish into the bottom corner in the second half.

Eberechi Eze – 8.5/10

The former Crystal Palace midfielder delivered a superb performance and capped it off with his first goal in the UEFA Champions League.

Eze opened the scoring in the first half with a tremendous strike from the edge of the box, easing the tension inside the stadium as the Gunners struggled to break down their opponents.

Leandro Trossard – 7.5/10

Trossard was lively throughout the game and linked up well with fellow attackers, posing a constant threat to the Bayer Leverkusen defence.

The Belgian forward came close to finding the net on several occasions in the first half, but he was denied by excellent goalkeeping from Janis Blaswich.

Bukayo Saka – 7/10

The England national football team international produced a much-improved display compared to his outing at the BayArena.

Saka consistently looked to create opportunities, delivering dangerous crosses and attempting to beat defenders to stretch the opposition backline.

Viktor Gyökeres – 6/10

It proved to be another frustrating evening for Viktor Gyökeres, as the Swedish striker was unable to find the back of the net.

Gyökeres had a couple of promising opportunities during the match, but his efforts on goal were comfortably dealt with by goalkeeper Janis Blaswich.

SUBSTITUTE

Gabriel Martinelli – 5.5/10

The Brazilian winger struggled to influence the game in the final third and was unable to extend his impressive goalscoring record at the Emirates in the Champions League.

Cristhian Mosquera – 6/10

Mosquera delivered a composed defensive performance at full-back, showing discipline and awareness to help Arsenal maintain their advantage and see out the game.

Kai Havertz – 6.5/10

The German forward nearly made an immediate impact after coming on, getting close to adding to the scoreline. However, the opportunity was ruled out after he handled the ball in the build-up.

Christian Nørgaard – 6/10

The former Brentford midfielder made a positive contribution during his brief appearance, offering attacking support and registering a shot that ultimately drifted off target.

Myles Lewis-Skelly – Not Rated

Introduced late in the match, Lewis-Skelly did not have enough time on the pitch to make a meaningful impact.

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