Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta appeared in a press conference following the 1-1 draw against Leverkusen in the first leg of the UEFA Champions League round of 16 at the BayArena.

The coach said, "The match saw highly contrasting periods. We started well and had a golden opportunity with Martinelli, who hit the crossbar. In such moments, if we had scored, the course of the game would have changed completely. We were somewhat in control, but we didn't capitalize on our chances optimally, which gave them opportunities to launch dangerous counterattacks."

He added, "We wanted to start the second half strongly, but the exact opposite happened. We didn't focus well at the start of the match, which we had discussed beforehand. Then they had a clear header opportunity, and after that, they scored a goal, turning the match completely upside down."

He continued: "We had to keep our composure, and our performance improved with some changes. We had more possession of the ball, posed a greater threat on the flanks, and found our way back into the match. We knew they had certain plans, and they showed those plans. We didn't adhere to them, and we paid the price for that."

He emphasized, "Football is full of amusing and beautiful stories, and Kai Havertz's performance in executing the penalty kick was impressive. Clearly, it was a decisive goal for us, and we must take advantage of playing on our home ground. The match is now balanced. We have a lot to do ahead. We will need all our players to be at their best."

He concluded about the impact of Noni Madueke, who came on as a substitute: "His performance was outstanding. He changed the rhythm, dynamics, and intensity of the game, and had a significant impact on the result."