Arsenal will host Lens needing a point to qualify for the knockouts of the Champions League. They have only made one mistake thus far against Frank Haise’s troops. The Gunners have amassed nine points out of a possible twelve.
Preview (Arsenal vs. Lens)
Despite the fact that Bukayo Saka was relentlessly kicked by Sevilla’s rearguard, some of whom surprisingly avoided receiving yellow cards, during the fourth matchday, Arsenal saw their Hale End starboy rise above the opposition and put the Gunners in the running for the playoffs. With two games remaining, Arsenal managed to defeat the Europa League winners despite suffering back-to-back defeats to West Ham United and Newcastle United. Leandro Trossard’s first-half shot and Saka’s controlled second-half finish were the primary contributors.
With a four-point lead over Lens and PSV Eindhoven in first place and Sevilla out of the competition for the top slot, Arsenal can finish in the top two with a win on Wednesday. If they can defeat Les Sang et Or this week, they will also win the group. Although Michael Arteta’s team won’t be in the mood to ride their luck. It was the case in their most recent Premier League matchup with Brentford, Arsenal will still receive a knockout ticket if PSV lose to Sevilla. This will be the case even if they lose to Lens for the second time this season. Arsenal climbed to the top of the table, surpassing both Manchester City and Liverpool. This is despite a couple of Aaron Ramsdale’s misfortunes.
After coming out of Champions League exile, Lens may have had lower expectations going into Group B. Haise’s team saw a sharp decline in performance at the beginning of the season. They have had to adjust to life without RB Leipzig’s new striker Lois Openda and Saudi Arabia-bound Seko Fofana. Les Sang et Or, however, entered the Champions League race in first place after winning their first three games. Despite this, they lost to PSV last time out. They start matchday five in third place, which is good enough for a Europa League ticket. On November 8, Lens defeated PSV in Eindhoven thanks to a classic Luuk de Jong header.
Team News
Arsenal was without first-choice goalkeeper David Raya and fringe playmaker Fabio Vieira for the thrashing of Brentford due to ineligibility and suspension, respectively. Other known injury victims included Thomas Partey (thigh), Jurrien Timber (knee), and Emile Smith Rowe (knee). Nevertheless, Vieira’s suspension only pertains to domestic matches, so Arteta can use both players for this match. Raya, a Brentford loanee, is very certain to push Ramsdale back to the bench.
It remains to be seen if Havertz’s victory over Brentford will be the impetus for the German to turn things around, but Arteta is undoubtedly considering giving the German a start this time, particularly if the Arsenal manager chooses to be cautious when it comes to Jesus’s fitness. Although one of Lens’s players, winger Morgan Guilavogui, has been sent off for his late sending-off in the team’s previous match against PSV, Arteta’s ranks have been strengthened by the return of a banned player. Nevertheless, the 25-year-old suffered a back injury during the weekend.
In keeping with the theme of lack of discipline, Lens striker Elye Wahi and Clermont’s Alidu Seidu got into a fight over the weekend, which resulted in the sending-off of both players and Lanciers coach Pascal Gastien. However, left-back Deviver Machado (adductor) is doubtful, and Jimmy Cabot and Walter Farinez, who suffered ACL injuries, are still out.
Arsenal 2 – 0 Lens
For more football previews, click here
