Arsenal vs Lens LIVE: Champions League result and reaction as Gunners demolish Lens to reach knockout rounds

The Arsenal team has landed. Tomiyasu is preferred to White at right-back, while Saka, Jesus and Martinelli make up the front three.

Fresh off his weekend winner, Kai Havertz starts with Jorginho an option from the bench, while David Raya back in goal ahead of Aaron Ramsdale.

Arsenal XI: Raya; Tomiyasu, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Rice, Havertz, Odegaard; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli.

Franck Haise, Lens coach: “Our ambitions are always the same. We know our opponents are stronger than us, but that doesn’t mean we won’t be able to cause them problems.

“We’ll have to raise our game in all areas to try and compete. What is certain is that if we want to be there, we will have to be there with our usual principles and strengths.”

Mikel Arteta was asked if Emile Smith Rowe and Thomas Partey would be fit to play before January and he said: "It is a possibility but it will depend on how they evolve,

"Emile has been already on the pitch doing some jogging, so I don’t know how long it’s going to take. Normally he is a quick healer, and Thomas is the same.

“We have to make sure that when they come back they are at their best as well. We don’t want to rush them, but at the same time the team needs them because at the moment we are missing some key, key players."

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice outlined why the Gunners were so impressive against Sevilla and what Lens can expect when they travel to London for this game.

“High energy, at it from the start and full gas,” he said. “We didn’t let them breathe. I think they had one shot all game. All round, just a really good performance, especially with them sitting so deep and playing in a back five, which is always hard to break down.”

Since his appointment as Arsenal boss in 2019, Mikel Arteta’s best run in Europe was reaching the semi-finals of the Europa League in 2021.

He was asked if he still had something to prove in Europe as Arsenal manager and he replied: "For sure,

"I think it is not that we have to prove, we had to come back into Europe being the club we want to be, have that presence and the results that tell them we are back in a strong way. We haven’t done that yet and it needs to be done."

Arsenal are top but not quite yet guaranteed a last-16 spot after beating Sevilla in routine fashion last time out. A four-point lead means they are well on course though and a home win over Lens on Wednesday evening will seal the job.

PSV and Lens are both on five points, with Sevilla on two, so there’s a scrap on to nick second place. Arsenal are away to PSV on MD6, so can still wrap up matters there if they slip up against the French side.

Mikel Arteta admits he still has something to prove as a manager in European competition as he aims to lead Arsenal into the Champions League knockout stages on Wednesday night.

The Gunners host Lens at the Emirates Stadium knowing a point would secure safe passage into the last 16 while victory will seal top spot in Group B.

Arteta led Arsenal back into the Champions League after a seven-year absence but – other than a run to the semi-finals in 2020-21 – he struggled in Europa League knockout games earlier in his tenure.

Lens inflicted defeat on the Gunners in their last meeting but Arsenal should secure the victory in front of their home fans. With it will also come a place in the knockout rounds.

Arsenal 2-0 Lens.

Arsenal XI: Raya, White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu, Odegaard, Jorginho, Rice, Saka, Jesus, Martinelli

Lens XI: Samba; Gradit, Khusanov, Medina; Aguilar, El Aynaoui, Abdul Samed, Frankowski; Thomasson, Fulgini; Wahi

David Raya will be available again after he missed the game against Brentford on Saturday due to being ineligible to face his parent club.

Martin Odegaard was also fit enough to play, but Ben White could return for the Champions League clash.

Jurrien Timber, Emile Smith Rowe and Thomas Partey remain on the long-term injury list.