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Arsenal will amp up their pre-season preparations on Wednesday night as they take on Bayer Leverkusen at the Emirates. Mikel Arteta's men suffered a 2-1 defeat against Liverpool in their final match of the USA tour while the reigning Bundesliga champions settled for a 2-2 draw with Ligue 1 outfit Lens.
Arsenal have been the one side that has given Manchester City any sense of competition in the Premier League over the last couple of years. Burdened with the knowledge that they can afford very few slip-ups during the upcoming campaign, Arsenal would do well not to make much of their latest loss against Liverpool.
Liverpool, yet another English side that's looking to work their way back into the status of title contenders, beat the Gunners 2-1 last week. Harvey Elliott was the star of the night for the Merseysiders as he set up Mohamed Salah and Fabio Carvalho for two first-half goals.
Kai Havertz pulled one back for Arsenal but that's as much response as they could muster. Even though they are back on home turf again, Arsenal have no time to rest on their laurels. Bayer Leverkusen were among the 2023-24 season's most impressive teams and Wednesday's contest should be an absolute cracker.
Xabi Alonso's men dropped just 12 points to break Bayern Munich's monopoly over the Bundesliga title last season. They won the DFB-Pokal and made it to the finals of the Europa Cup as well last term.
Leverkusen's pre-season preparations have gone well so far. They started with a 2-1 win over Rot-Weiss Essen before being held to a 2-2 draw by Lens.
Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen Head-to-Head and Key Numbers
- Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen have locked horns just twice in the past, in the Champions League in 2002. The first game ended in a 1-1 draw while Arsenal registered an emphatic 4-1 win in the second.
- Bayer Leverkusen won the Bundesliga title 2023-24 season. They had a 17-point lead at the end of the campaign.
- Alonso's men conceded just 24 goals in 34 Bundesliga matches last term, 14 fewer than the second-best defensive side in the league (RB Leipzig)
- Arsenal had the best defensive record in the Premier League last season, conceding just 29 goals in 38 matches.
Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen Prediction
Both teams are well-matched on paper. Arteta's Arsenal and Alonso's Leverkusen play exciting attacking football. There should be plenty of goals in this one and this one could end up being an entertaining draw.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-2 Bayer Leverkusen
Arsenal vs Bayer Leverkusen Betting Tips
Tip 1: Result - Draw
Tip 2: Game to have over 2.5 goals - Yes
Tip 3: Both teams to score - Yes
