Ist es innerhalb der Regeln?: Leverkusen coach questions Arsenal corner tactic ahead of Champions League clash
leverkusen head coach Kasper Hjulmand has publicly questioned a controversial FC Arsenal corner tactic ahead of their Champions League meeting, highlighting that the London side have an unusually high scoring rate from set pieces. Hjulmand flagged concerns that Arsenal players often try to block or impede the opposing goalkeeper on corners, a pattern visible both in the domestic league and in European competition. The claim places match officials, player safety and tactical interpretation under scrutiny as the knockout tie approaches.
Leverkusen coach raises rules question over Arsenal corners
The most immediate flashpoint is Hjulmand’s challenge to how corners are being executed by Arsenal this season. The Gunners have recorded a notably high conversion rate from set pieces, particularly corners, and their approach frequently involves players attempting to obstruct the opposing goalkeeper to create scoring opportunities. Hjulmand’s intervention frames the upcoming Champions League clash as more than a tactical battle; it is now also a debate over where the rules begin and refereeing discretion ends.
Kofane cleared in training scare, looks likely for start
Bayer’s young attacker Christian Kofane suffered a brief scare in training when a hit to his foot forced him to remove his boot and grimace, but he later addressed the media and described the incident as minor. Christian Kofane, attacker for Bayer Leverkusen, said, “It was not bad, a small blow. I trained, it goes very well, ” signaling fitness and readiness. The forward has regained form recently, finding the net in the win at Hamburger SV and again in the 3: 3 draw at Freiburg, and he could be preferred for the start even with the veteran striker back in the squad. Patrik Schick is expected to return to the matchday roster, but his immediate starting role remains uncertain.
Havertz returned to old turf but remained an observer
Kai Havertz returned to the stadium where he learned his trade to a warm reception — a framed portrait and public applause marked the moment — but the 26-year-old did not take the field and remained on the bench. The club staged the reunion as a celebration of its development path: a high-value transfer and years away, then a one-minute spotlight back home. The tie itself ended level at 1: 1, leaving memories of the night tempered by the sense that Havertz’s homecoming was ceremonial rather than competitive.
Immediate reactions
Christian Kofane, attacker, Bayer Leverkusen: “It was not bad, a small blow. I trained, it goes very well. ” The brief statement underlined squad confidence as tactical debate swirls around set-piece conduct.
Quick context
Arsenal’s set-piece output this season stands out across both the domestic league and the Champions League, and their corner routines have repeatedly involved close contact with the goalkeeper. Hjulmand’s challenge centers on whether routine contact has crossed into deliberate obstruction.
What’s next
Refereeing interpretation and match oversight will be watched closely when the sides meet; any further incidents on corners could prompt formal review and sharper enforcement. With Kofane fit and the homecoming of a former academy star concluded without pitch time, leverkusen enters the next chapter waiting to see whether the tactical question Hjulmand raised will shape the tie’s outcome.
