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:
Arsenal vs Lens
Lens fans already out in numbers at the Emirates.
Arsenal vs Lens
Arteta on Fabio Vieira: “He’s been having some discomfort and we tried to have alternative treatment with him, and he wasn’t improving so we’ve sent him to see a specialist and that was to get an operation done in his groin, and we did that yesterday,
“We’re expecting him to be out for weeks now. We don’t expect him to do that [be back this side of the break], so let’s see how he evolves and obviously, the operation was done yesterday so we’re going to have to wait and see, but we will take it as it comes.”
Arsenal vs Lens
Lens’ first Champions League home game in 21 years ended in a 2-1 home win against the Gunners despite Gabriel Jesus giving the visitors a 14th-minute lead. Adrien Thomasson levelled 11 minutes later and a 69th-minute goal from Elye Wahi ultimately proved decisive.
The teams had previously met in the 1999/2000 Uefa Cup semi-finals with Arsène Wenger’s Arsenal winning 1-0 at home and 2-1 away.
Arsenal vs Lens
Lens are level on five points with PSV Eindhoven, who ended their unbeaten return to the Champions League with a 1-0 victory in the Netherlands last time out, but do hold a three-point cushion on fourth-placed Sevilla, their Matchday 6 opponents.
Arsenal vs Lens
Four points clear at the top of Group B, Arsenal are looking to confirm their place in the Champions League knockout rounds at home to Lens .
The Gunners have won three of their four games in this season’s Champions League after six seasons away, the sole exception a 2-1 loss at Lens on Matchday 2 – the Ligue 1 side’s first home Champions League game since 2002.
Mikel Arteta hails Aaron Ramsdale despite errors in Arsenal’s win over Brentford
Mikel Arteta defended Aaron Ramsdale after the Arsenal goalkeeper’s error-strewn display in the 1-0 win at Brentford.
Not even Kai Havertz’s late winner, which sent the Gunners to the top of the Premier League for the first time this season, could mask a horror show from Ramsdale.
The 25-year-old was back in the spotlight on his first league appearance since September 3 with David Raya, now seemingly the club’s undisputed number one, still on loan from Brentford and ineligible to face his parent club.
Mikel Arteta hails Aaron Ramsdale despite errors in Arsenal’s win over Brentford
The 25-year-old was back in the spotlight on his first league appearance since September 3.
Lens team news
And here’s the Lens team to take on Arsenal this evening.
Ex-Nottingham Forest play-off hero Brice Samba captains the French side from between the sticks while highly-rated 20-year-old Elye Wahi will be their main attacking threat.
Lens XI: Samba; Gradit, Danso, Medina; Frankowski, Mendy, Samed, Haidara; Sotoca, Fulgini, Wahi
Arsenal vs Lens
Mikel Arteta on Bukayo Saka: “I don’t know what world-class means but he’s a top, top player that’s for sure. Getting to the top is one thing.
“The way he has improved is really steady. He has got the right mentality. He has the right people around him. He wants more and that’s because there’s much more to come.”
Arsenal vs Lens
Pre-match thoughts from Lens defender Massadio Haïdara: “It’s always nice to play against great teams in stadiums like these. But we mustn’t forget why we made the trip. We have to forget about the environment and concentrate on the match.
“As usual, we’re going to do everything we can to win. It won’t be easy because we’ll be up against a great opponent. We put in a good performance in the first game.
“The context will be different tomorrow evening, but the team will give everything. We’ll put in place what we know so that we leave London with all three points. The whole team are aware of what awaits them tomorrow and are preparing as best they can.”
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