Arsenal had to wait until the 89th minute to secure a 1‑1 draw against Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie.
Kai Havertz converted a late penalty to rescue a point for the Gunners.
The game at the BayArena was tight and scrappy at times.
Arsenal had a bit more of the ball early and created a chance when Gabriel Martinelli’s shot hit the crossbar, coming close to giving them the lead.
Leverkusen started finding their rhythm after that and took the lead just after the break when Robert Andrich headed in from a corner.
Arsenal struggled to break through but kept pushing.
The breakthrough finally came late when a foul in the box gave them a penalty. Havertz calmly slotted it home in the 89th minute, snatching a crucial point.
By the end, Arsenal had seven shots with four on target, Leverkusen had six with three on target, and possession was almost even at 52‑48 to Arsenal.
The draw leaves the tie wide open ahead of the second leg at the Emirates on March 17.
Arsenal can feel relieved to leave Germany with a point, while Leverkusen will be frustrated at letting a lead slip so late in the game.
