Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Liveupdated

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

Michael Jones
Wednesday 29 November 2023 17:41 EST
Comments
The team camaraderie for Havertz and Ramsdale is what this Arsenal team is all about

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

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.

(Action Images via Reuters)
(Action Images via Reuters)
(REUTERS)
(AFP via Getty Images)
Luke Baker29 November 2023 19:43

Arsenal vs Lens

Arsenal ready to go for the game this evening.

Luke Baker29 November 2023 19:36

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.”

Mike Jones29 November 2023 19:30

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.

Mike Jones29 November 2023 19:25

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.

Mike Jones29 November 2023 19:20

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.

Mike Jones29 November 2023 19:15

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.

Mike Jones29 November 2023 19:10

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

Luke Baker29 November 2023 19:05

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.”

Mike Jones29 November 2023 19:05

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.”

Mike Jones29 November 2023 19:00

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in