Arsenal vs Lens LIVE: Champions League result and reaction as Gunners demolish Lens to reach knockout rounds
Arsenal 6-0 Lens: Mikel Arteta’s men run riot and notch up six goals at the Emirates
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Arsenal sealed top spot in Group B with a barnstorming performance against Lens in the Champions League that saw them score six goals without reply at the Emirates Stadium.
It took just 13 minutes for Kai Havertz to settle any nerves when he poked home the opener from close range to cap off an aggressive and dominant start. What followed was a consistent run of goal scoring as Gabriel Jesus turned in the second when checking inside before Bukayo Saka chested one over the line.
Gabriel Martinelli’s curling effort made it four goals before the half hour mark but Arsenal kept their feet on the gas. Martin Odegaard adding a fifth with a fabulous volley in stoppage time during the first half.
The tempo understandably slackened in the second half but when the hosts were awarded a penalty late in the match, Jorginho coolly slotted it home to become the sixth goalscorer of the evening.
Relive the action below:
Penalty to Arsenal!
Arsenal 5-0 Lens
84 mins: Things are going from bad to worse for Lens. A VAR check shows there’s a handball in the area and Martin Odegaard will have the chance to make it six.
Arsenal 5-0 Lens
84 mins: Gabriel Jesus has impressed again tonight but he’s night is done and Eddie Nketiah comes on to play the final 10 minutes or so.
The action was done and dusted in the first half but he’ll be hoping to add to the tally before the end of the game.
Arsenal 5-0 Lens
81 mins: White goes forward again and is fed the ball on the right wing. He slips it into the box for Martinelli this time who thinks about shooting but decides instead to pull the ball back for Reiss Nelson’s approach.
The ball is intercepted though and turned behind for a corner.
Arsenal 5-0 Lens
78 mins: Ben White gets the chance for a run to the byline and sends over a decent cross but Brice Samba is confident and plucks the ball out of the air.
Arsenal 5-0 Lens
75 mins: Jorginho makes his way onto the pitch replacing Declan Rice who applauds the Arsenal fans on his way off the pitch.
Arsenal are building a good squad under Mikel Arteta. There are a few areas they can improve but they looked like competitors for the big trophies in that first half.
Arsenal 5-0 Lens
72 mins: Jakub Kiwior wins the ball after a clearance from Samba. He nudges the ball to Martinelli who looks to dribble into space on the left but just loses possession as he reaches the edge of the box.
Arsenal 5-0 Lens
69 mins: Chance! Kai Havertz gets the crowd going with a weaving, twisting run to the byline before cutting the ball into the box for Martin Odegaard.
The Arsenal captain takes a shot and drills a low effort over to the bottom right corner. Brice Samba leaps acros to his left and manages to push the ball away but Gabriel Jesus is hovering nearby.
The goalkeeper scrambles to smother the loose ball as Jesus challenges for it. The forward is then punished for a foul and Lens have a free kick.
Arsenal 5-0 Lens
66 mins: Bukayo Saka lasted a touch over an hour but now he’s taken off by Mikel Arteta to make way for Reiss Nelson. Nelson is loudly cheered by the Arsenal fans and he’ll have a bit of time to get stuck into this game.
Arsenal 5-0 Lens
63 mins: Martin Odegaard is clattered by a lunging Massadio Haidara who dives in with a rogue tackle. The Arsenal man is okay after contact with the shin and the Gunners are awarded a free kick.
Arsenal 5-0 Lens
60 mins: Adrien Thomasson, a Lens substitute, makes a decent run off the ball to get in behind the Arsenal back line as as threaded pass comes down the right side.
It’s too heavy for him to get to though and David Raya comes over to scoop up the loose ball.
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