football.london reporters pick their Arsenal starting XIs for the Champions League last 16 second-leg clash against Bayer Leverkusen
16:38, 16 Mar 2026
Max Dowman and Mikel Arteta
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Mikel Arteta is expected to include Max Dowman in the Arsenal squad vs Bayer Leverkusen
Arsenal are looking to book their place in the Champions League quarter-finals when they square off against Bayer Leverkusen at the Emirates on Tuesday.
They are currently drawing 1-1 on aggregate after Kai Havertz's late penalty spared the Gunners' blushes at the BayArena.
Mikel Arteta has already confirmed Jurrien Timber and Martin Odegaard will both miss the contest through injury.
football.london reporters Tom Canton and Ryan Taylor have had their go at selecting their starting XIs.
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Tom Canton - Chief Arsenal Reporter
It’s a big week for Arsenal with two massive games, The Gunners are looking to secure maximum value and progress to the last-16 of the Champions League and then their first piece of silverware in nearly six years at the weekend.
Mikel Arteta will, however, be forced into a change at right-back with Jurrien Timber not in training. I would love to see Ben White start, but the likelier reality is probably Cristhian Mosquera playing in the right-back role.
Elsewhere, Havertz moves back into the midfield with Viktor Gyokeres starting up top. Eze, I would push out to the left-hand side. Piero Hincapie then comes back in at left-back allowing Ben White to push further up the field.
It would be good to see Max Dowman get some more minutes from the bench, if the moment feels right.
Canton’s Arsenal XI vs Bayer Leverkusen: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Gyokeres, Eze
Riccardo Calafiori of Arsenal talks with teammate Ben White
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Ben White (left) could start for Arsenal(Image: Stuart MacFarlane, Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Ryan Taylor
I feel it's a big night for Ben White in the absence of Jurrien Timber. The England international has endured an injury-hit season but now looks poised to play an important role in Arsenal's huge push for silverware.
If Timber cannot make Sunday's Carabao Cup final, there's even a chance he might earn a start at Wembley if he gets through Tuesday okay.
I even think there's a possibility Cristhian Mosquera could start ahead of White at right-back but I would go with the latter as he previously forged a brilliant partnership with Bukayo Saka on the right flank.
William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes and Piero Hincapie complete the back-four with Martin Zubimendi at the base of midfield, Declan Rice and Kai Havertz behind the frontline.
I'd then go for Saka on the right, bring Martinelli back in from the left (under the assumption Leandro Trossard is not quite at 100 per cent fitness yet) and Viktor Gyokeres.
Max Dowman should 100 per cent get some minutes from the bench as his confidence will be sky-high right now.
Taylor's Arsenal XI vs Bayer Leverkusen: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Hincapie; Zubimendi, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Gyokeres, Martinelli.
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