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 1-0 Lens
15 mins: That goal means Arsenal are four points clear at the top of Group B as it stands. They’re topping the table and heading to the knockouts as group winners.
PSV Eindhoven, following their win over Sevilla, are second with eight.
GOAL! Arsenal 1-0 Lens (Havertz, 13’)⚽️
13 mins: The ball is flicked into the box from the inside right channel and Gabriel Jesus challenges for the ball. He may be offside as it drops but he manages to prod the ball into the six-yard area where Kai Havertz arrives and pokes it home.
Arsenal 0-0 Lens
12 mins: Close! Takehiro Tomiyasu comes forward on the right wing and brings the ball into space. He lifts a cross over to the far side of the box and picks out Kai Havertz.
The German rises above everyone else and nods it wide of the far post.
Arsenal 0-0 Lens
9 mins: The build-up play is patient and clinical with Arsenal picking the moments and their passes to offer the best opportunities in the box.
Lens are defending solidly. They’re moving around as a well drilled unit and keeping Arsenal at bay.
Arsenal 0-0 Lens
6 mins: Close! The first chance of the game comes to Arsenal. Oleksandr Zinchenko is fed the ball on the inside left channel and he flicks a cross over to the back post.
Gabriel Jesus arrives from the right and volleys a side-footed effort just wide of the near post.
Arsenal 0-0 Lens
3 mins: Arsenal are just feeling out their opponents. They’ve had most of the ball over the opening few minutes and have tested the backline a couple of times without being too penetrating.
Kick off! Arsenal 0-0 Lens
Arsenal kick off the match and knock the ball back to David Raya. He’s returned in goal tonight after missing the Brentford game and gets stuck into the action with a long ball forward.
Arsenal vs Lens
Here come the teams.
After a light show at the Emirates Stadium, the players head out onto the pitch. If they avoid defeat tonight they win finish top of the group and qualify for the next stage of the competition.
Martin Odegaard has the captain’s armband once again.
Arsenal vs Lens team news
A reminder of the teams this evening. We’re only about five minutes away from kick-off now.
Arsenal XI: Raya; Tomiyasu, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Rice, Havertz, Odegaard; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli
Lens XI: Samba; Gradit, Danso, Medina; Frankowski, Mendy, Samed, Haidara; Sotoca, Fulgini, Wahi
Arsenal vs Lens
Arteta on finishing top of the group: “We want to be top of the group and the opportunity is there for us, against a team that causes problems, and that we’ve already experienced against them, so we have the right motivation to do that.
“We have to win at home, and we have to win the group if we can. That’s the mentality of the team, that’s for sure.”
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