Bayer Leverkusen vs Arsenal Predictions

• Bayer have scored in 18 of their last 19 home games across all comps.
• Arsenal have scored in 13 consecutive games.
• The Gunners won all eight of their league phase games.

Bayer test for Arsenal

Arsenal emerged from the league phase with a perfect record and they should be able to overcome Bayer Leverkusen in their Champions League last 16 assignment.

The Gunners won convincingly at Athletic Bilbao (2-0) and Inter Milan (3-1) during the opening stage of the competition, while Leverkusen won just one of their four home games and have been better on their travels in Europe – with a win at Manchester City the highlight.

Arsenal are short priced favourites to win on the night in Germany on Wednesday, but the value bet is perhaps backing both teams to score.

Bayer rarely draw a blank at home

Arsenal’s defence was exceptional in the league phase as they conceded just four goals in eight games, with just one of those coming in an away fixture.

However, they have been a little less solid at the back of late with just two clean sheets in their last seven games across all competitions. One of those shut-outs came against Wigan in the FA Cup, and they conceded against the Latics’ League One rivals in that competition at the weekend. The probable absence of William Saliba again on Wednesday also encourages the prospect of a goal for the hosts.

Arsenal are on a 13-game scoring streak themselves and they hit 23 goals in their eight league phase games, scoring more than once in every game. It is hard to see the Gunners failing to get on the scoresheet and Bayer rarely draw a blank at home.

The Bundesliga outfit have scored in 18 of their last 19 home games and the only game where they didn’t score in that period came against Olympiacos in the second leg of their Champions League play-off, where they didn’t need a goal as they held a 2-0 lead from the first leg in Greece.

Both teams scored in three of Bayer’s four league phase assignments at BayArena and they scored in all of those so at around evens goals at both ends looks a strong option.

Bayern can stay in contention

Arsenal should win, but they may not put the tie to bed and a 2-1 win for the visitors is the correct score prediction.

Bayer shipped four at home to Stuttgart in January but since that defeat they have tightened up at the back and have conceded just one goal across their last six home games. Arsenal are of course capable of scoring heavily but they may settle for a one goal advantage going into the second leg in London, rather than attempt to put the tie to bed on the night.

One outside option that is worth a mention in the goalscorer market is Jurrien Timber as he has been making a key contribution in attack recently. The Gunners full-back has one goal and two assists in his last three Premier League games, while he scored against Bayern and provided an assist against Inter in the league phase.