Substituting Saka: Arteta's bold move pays off for Arsenal

Mikel Arteta's decision to sub off Bukayo Saka in Arsenal's Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen proved crucial as a late penalty earned the Gunners a draw.

Mar. 12, 2026 at 5:08am

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With Arsenal trailing 1-0 at Bayer Leverkusen in the first leg of their Champions League round-of-16 tie, Mikel Arteta made the bold decision to substitute star player Bukayo Saka in the 60th minute. The move paid off as substitute Noni Madueke won a late penalty, which Kai Havertz converted to earn Arsenal a 1-1 draw.

Why it matters

Arteta's willingness to make a big call and remove his captain and highest-paid player Saka showed the manager's growing maturity and ability to make tough decisions for the good of the team, even in a high-stakes Champions League match. The result keeps Arsenal in a strong position heading into the second leg.

The details

Saka had struggled to make an impact on the game, with Leverkusen's defense nullifying his usual threat. Arteta felt the team needed "something else" and brought on the direct running of Madueke, who won the late penalty that led to the equalizer. Arteta praised Madueke's "bravery" and "threat" in changing the game.

  • The substitution occurred in the 60th minute, with Arsenal trailing 1-0.
  • The penalty that led to the equalizer was awarded in the dying minutes of the match.

The players

Mikel Arteta

The 43-year-old manager of Arsenal who made the bold decision to substitute Bukayo Saka.

Bukayo Saka

Arsenal's captain on the night and one of their highest-paid players, who struggled to make an impact before being substituted.

Noni Madueke

The Arsenal substitute who won the late penalty that led to the equalizer, with his direct running and dribbling proving a threat to the Leverkusen defense.

Kai Havertz

The former Leverkusen player who converted the penalty to earn Arsenal the 1-1 draw.

Christian Kofane

The 19-year-old Leverkusen forward who provided a stern test for Arsenal's defense.

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What they’re saying

“I thought that we needed something else. Noni has been contributing and being a real threat and I decided to make the change.”

— Mikel Arteta, Arsenal Manager

“When you come on and your team's losing the game, it gives you that extra impetus to take risks and try and change it.”

— Noni Madueke

What’s next

The second leg of the Champions League round-of-16 tie between Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen will take place on March 19, 2026.

The takeaway

Mikel Arteta's willingness to make a bold substitution, even removing his captain and star player Bukayo Saka, demonstrated the manager's growing maturity and ability to make tough decisions for the good of the team. This flexibility could prove crucial as Arsenal fight on multiple fronts for silverware this season.