Leverkusen Vs Arsenal: Saliba Starts as Arteta Names a Changed XI for Champions League First Leg

The floodlights at the BayArena are set, the pitch looks “pretty splendid, ” and leverkusen vs arsenal arrives with the kind of pre-kickoff tension that lives in small details: a late fitness call, a missing name on the bench, and a defender returning at precisely the moment the stakes rise.

Arsenal travel to Germany today for the first leg of their Champions League round of 16 tie, carrying what has been described as an impressive unbeaten league phase and the stated aim of keeping hopes of multiple trophies alive. Bayer Leverkusen, backed by home advantage tonight, line up looking to upset one of the competition’s frontrunners.

What is the latest team news for Leverkusen Vs Arsenal?

Arsenal’s starting XI is set up in a 4-2-3-1 shape, with William Saliba starting in defense. The visitors line up as: Raya; Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Rice, Zubimendi; Eze, Saka, Martinelli; Gyokeres.

Bayer Leverkusen start in a 3-4-2-1: Blaswich; Quansah, Andrich, Tapsoba; Poku, Palacios, Garcia, Grimaldo; Terrier, Maza; Kofane.

On the benches, Arsenal name: Arrizabalaga (GK), Ranson (GK), White, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Mosquera, Salmon, Norgaard, Madueke, Dowman, Havertz, Jesus. Leverkusen’s substitutes are: Omlin (GK), Lomb (GK), Fernandez, Hofmann, Tillman, Schick, Oermann, Tape, Culbreath.

There is a clear personnel note around Arsenal’s squad: Riccardo Calafiori is deemed fit enough after picking up an injury against Mansfield, but Leandro Trossard misses out. For Leverkusen, there is one change from their last outing against Freiburg on Saturday, with Exequiel Palacios coming in for Equi Fernandez in midfield.

How does Saliba’s return shape Arsenal’s night in Germany?

Saliba’s inclusion lands as one of the defining pre-match developments. The context around his return has been framed by a recent absence: there was hope he would be ready to slot back into Arsenal’s defense after missing the previous two games with an ankle injury. Tonight, that hope becomes a team-sheet fact.

For Mikel Arteta, selecting Saliba brings a familiar defensive presence back into a starting group facing a two-legged test. The match is the first act of a round of 16 tie, and the immediate goal is straightforward: secure a result away from home that sets up the second leg.

The wider picture around Arsenal’s squad, though, remains complicated. Martin Ødegaard has been described as enduring another frustrating season on the injury front and is currently battling a knee issue. Norway manager Ståle Solbakken has said the problem is not serious, but Ødegaard will not be back in action until after the international break. Arsenal are also without Mikel Merino after foot surgery at the start of the year, while Ben White remains a doubt. In that context, Saliba starting is not just a return—it is a stabilizer in a lineup that must carry both ambition and uncertainty.

What’s at stake tonight, and what milestones are in view?

In leverkusen vs arsenal, the immediate stakes are defined by the format: this is the first leg of a Champions League round of 16 tie, and the tone of the night matters as much as the scoreline. Arsenal arrive with momentum from an unbeaten league phase, while Leverkusen aim to use home advantage to challenge a side viewed as among the frontrunners.

There is also an individual landmark hovering in the attacking line. Gabriel Martinelli is one goal away from equaling Thierry Henry’s Arsenal record of seven goals in a single Champions League campaign. It is the kind of statistic that can feel distant while players lace up boots, but it becomes real quickly in a game where one moment can bend a tie.

Beyond numbers, the team selection details offer their own clues. Calafiori’s presence on the bench after an injury against Mansfield suggests Arsenal have at least some cover if required, while the absence of Trossard removes an option from the matchday group. Leverkusen’s single midfield change—Palacios in for Fernandez—signals continuity with a small tactical adjustment rather than a reshuffle.

By the time the whistle goes, the pre-match notes will give way to the harder truth of knockout football. But for now, the scene is set: a German stadium ready for a European night, a defender restored to the center of Arsenal’s plans, and two teams stepping into the first chapter of a tie that will be decided over ninety minutes now—and ninety more to come.

Image caption (alt text suggestion): Leverkusen Vs Arsenal team news displayed at the BayArena ahead of kick-off.