By Achile Danjuma
Arsenal eased into the Champions League quarter-finals as Eberechi Eze’s stunning strike inspired a 2-0 win over Bayer Leverkusen in the last-16 second leg on Tuesday.
Often derided for winning in ugly fashion this season, Mikel Arteta’s side produced a pair of eye-catching goals to seal their 3-1 aggregate victory at the Emirates Stadium.
Eze broke the deadlock with a long-range rocket late in the first half and Declan Rice’s composed finish killed off outclassed Leverkusen after the interval.
Arsenal needed Kai Havertz’s late penalty to rescue a 1-1 draw in the first leg last week, but they were far more commanding in the rematch as they reached the quarter-finals for a third successive season.
Beaten by Paris Saint-Germain in the semi-finals last season, Arsenal will face Sporting Lisbon in the last eight after the Portuguese team’s remarkable recovery from a three-goal first leg deficit to beat Bodo/Glimt 5-3 on aggregate.
The Gunners crushed Sporting 5-1 in Lisbon in the group stage last season.
Brushing aside Leverkusen was ideal preparation for Arsenal’s bid to win a first trophy in six years against Manchester City in the League Cup final at Wembley on Sunday.