Eberechi Eze produces more big-match magic in Arsenal and Mikel Arteta's pivotal week

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Eberechi Eze has provided some magical moments this season - but this topped the lot.

Eze’s wonder strike secured Arsenal a Champions League quarter final showdown with Sporting Lisbon as they stayed in the hunt for a remarkable quadruple. Declan Rice sealed the win with a precision finish as Arsenal showed their European pedigree with a win which underlined their potential to go all the way this season.

The Emirates felt like it was still buzzing three days on from Max Dowman’s last-gasp heroics against Everton.

They let off fireworks, turned up the music and tried to ramp up the atmosphere ahead of the kick-off as they set out to overwhelm Bayer Leverkusen. The smoke hung heavy in the air before kick-off and you could feel the tension with so much at stake in what is undoubtedly a pivotal week for Mikel Arteta’s men.

That late win over Everton has left Arsenal nine points clear at the top of the Premier League and they also face title rivals Manchester City in the Carabao Cup final on Sunday.

But after topping the Champions League league phase with a 100 per cent record, Arsenal - who are also into the FA Cup quarter finals - were also made the bookies’ favourites to win European football’s top prize.

Arteta has become understandably greedy because few teams rarely get the chance to make history quite like this as they have been chasing four trophies.

They were well below their best in the first leg and escaped with a draw thanks to Kai Havertz’s controversial penalty against his former club.

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Arsenal left 16-year-old wonder kid Dowman on the bench but Ben White came in for the injured Jurrien Timber, Viktor Gyokeres replaced Havertz up front while Leandro Trossard came in for Noni Madueke.

It was Trossard who looked lively early on as the fit-again Gunners forward looked to seize his opportunity.

Trossard created some space on the edge of the box, lined up a shot and then forced a terrific acrobatic save from Leverkusen keeper Janis Blaswich.

Arsenal defender Gabriel twice headed over from Bukayo Saka’s corners. Declan Rice fizzed in a fierce free kick which Blaswich pushed away.

Blaswich’s goal was living a charmed life as he pushed away Saka’s shot and then somehow kept out Trossard’s effort with his legs. It was one-way traffic. The pressure was mounting.

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The dam had to break - and finally it did in the most spectacular fashion. Piero Hincapie and Rice linked up, Trossard’s lay-off went to Eberechi Eze who controlled it, span and then unleashed a 25 yard rocket which even Blaswich could not stop.

The stadium erupted. Eze has saved his magic for big moments this season. A hat-trick and then a brace against Tottenham. This was huge - and surely the best strike of the lot.

Arsenal were so dominant and yet just could not put the game to bed. Leverkusen’s England defender Jarell Quansah made a heroic goal line clearance to thwart Hincapie.

Finally Arsenal got their insurance cover. Leverkusen failed to clear their lines, Rice latched on to.a loose ball and steered a wonderful low 20 yard shot into the bottom corner to make it 2-0 after 63 minutes.

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