Arsenal are set to face Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League on Tuesday
Kai Havertz of Arsenal
Kai Havertz is set to face his former side Bayer Leverkusen in the Champions League(Image: Vitalii Kliuiev/Getty Images)
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Arsenal are preparing for their decisive Champions League game against Bayer Leverkusen on Tuesday night. The Gunners have already turned their attention back to European competition after extending their lead at the top of the Premier League.
Mikel Arteta ’s side are set to host Leverkusen in the return leg of their round of 16 tie. Kai Havertz will be fighting to retain his place and start against his old club, having scored Arsenal’s late equaliser from the penalty spot in the first leg.
The Germany international has proven effective for the Gunners when fit this term and he is still admired by Leverkusen, who sold him to Chelsea in 2020. Havertz was unable to score against Everton at the weekend, though teenage star Max Dowman stepped up to earn Arsenal an important victory.
Kai Havertz green light for transfer
Bayer Leverkusen managing director Simon Rolfes has made it clear that Havertz would be welcome back at the club. The forward broke through as a teenager at Leverkusen, making 150 appearances before being sold for around £72million.
“I’m generally sceptical about bringing former players back. But with Kai [Havertz] and Florian Wirtz, I would make an exception,” Rolfes said on Sport1 programme Doppelpass.
Speaking about Havertz, Rolfes continued: “He spent ten years in our youth system. We maintain close contact with Kai and if the situation arises, we would need to have a conversation.
“At the moment, however, he is in a different phase of his career and feels very comfortable at Arsenal. He left the club to reach the top of world football.”
Max Dowman of Arsenal
Max Dowman scored his first Arsenal goal at the weekend(Image: Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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Mikel Arteta shares Max Dowman plan
Dowman wrote himself into the history books with his goal against Everton. The Arsenal starlet’s performance generated huge attention and he could be in line for more minutes as the Gunners compete on four fronts.
The 16-year-old made his Champions League debut as a substitute against Slavia Prague in November. However, Arteta called for calm following his latest eye-catching display.
When asked if Dowman could start the team’s next league game, the Arsenal boss responded: "Let's come down to earth today and enjoy the moment, because it was intense and it was worth it and we will see tomorrow."
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