Madueke says instinct led to penalty-winning run as Arsenal eye Emirates return

Noni Madueke says pure instinct guided his penalty-winning run in Arsenal's Champions League round-of-16 first leg, which finished 1-1 away at Bayer Leverkusen. The substitute believes a full Emirates will help Mikel Arteta's side when the tie returns to north London.

He came on for the final half-hour at the BayArena and brought pace after Arsenal had fallen behind early in the second half. Late in the game Madueke drove into the Leverkusen box and went down under a challenge from Malik Tillman; the home side protested. "I always think I can make an impact, whether I start the game or I'm on the bench," he said.

"My instinct told me to go into the box when I picked up the ball, so I just went." Madueke gave a frank assessment of the dressing-room mood, saying "the mood in the dressing room isn't amazing, but it's not terrible." He added that the return at the Emirates, where Arsenal have been strong, leaves "all to play for" and that the team are fine.

England, north London

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