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
Your support helps us to tell the story
My recent work focusing on Latino voters in Arizona has shown me how crucial independent journalism is in giving voice to underrepresented communities.
Your support is what allows us to tell these stories, bringing attention to the issues that are often overlooked. Without your contributions, these voices might not be heard.
Every dollar you give helps us continue to shine a light on these critical issues in the run up to the election and beyond
Eric Garcia
Washington Bureau Chief
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:
Arsenal 5-0 Lens
57 mins: Gabriel Jesus is still putting a shift in trying to press high up the pitch. He commits a foul looking to recover possession but it’s good intensity from the forward.
Arsenal 5-0 Lens
54 mins: Elye Wahi drifts into space on the right and is given the ball he takes it into the penalty area and looks to cross but the effort ends up in the hands of David Raya.
Arsenal 5-0 Lens
51 mins: Arsenal are maintaining possession and advancing slowly up the pitch moving it from left-to-right with Declan Rice as the playmaker in the middle.
Martinelli attempts to dribble into the box but is forced to the byline and runs the ball out of play.
Arsenal 5-0 Lens
48 mins: Arsenal are more than comfortable in this game. They’re happy to let Lens have the ball and equally happy in possession themselves.
There’s no danger, no urgency and no sense that the French side have a way back.
Second half! Arsenal 5-0 Lens
Lens get the ball rolling for the second half. Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu have been taken off at half-time with Ben White and Jakub Kiwior introduced.
HT Arsenal 5-0 Lens
Arsenal’s 4-0 lead within 27 minutes is joint-fastest an English side has ever scored four in a Uefa Champions League game, along with Manchester United v Brøndby IF in November 1998 en route to winning the competition that season.
HT Arsenal 5-0 Lens
Kai Havertz has scored in consecutive games in all club competitions, having gone 31 games without a non-penalty goal prior to this run.
Meanwhile, Bukayo Saka is the second player from Europe’s big five leagues to reach 10 assists in all competitions this season after Florian Wirtz.
Half-time! Arsenal 5-0 Lens
45+2 mins: What a performance from Arsenal. They head into the break with five goals to their name and a comfortable grip on Group B.
GOAL! Arsenal 5-0 Lens (Odegaard, 45+1)⚽️
45+1 mins: Arsenal come forward as a team with Saka driving the ball forward. He offloads it to Tomiyasu who dinks the ball into the penalty area where it drops to Martin Odegaard who volleys a fine strike into the back of the net.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments