Lens challenges Arsenal at the Emirates and must record a good result to maintain its chances of qualifying for the round of 16 of the Champions League. Follow the match live.
21:05 – Arsenal hold the ball
The Lensois block is well in place but the Gunners immediately took possession of the ball and are already running well. As a reminder, the English are arranged in their usual 4-3-3 system with the Spaniard Raya in goal, a defense made up of Tomiyasu on the right, a Saliba – Gabriel and Zinchenko hinge on the left. In the middle, we find the trident with Rice as sentinel behind Odegaard and Havertz. Arteta’s usual attacking trident starts with Saka on the right, Jesus up front and Martinelli on the left.
20:57 – The two teams take to the pitch at the Emirates Stadium
The Champions League anthem rings out at the Emirates stadium in London. The challenge is immense for the Lensois.
20:50 – Arsenal qualified if…
Comfortable leader of Group B, Arsenal are four steps ahead of PSV Eindhoven and RC Lens. A simple draw will be enough for the Gunners to qualify for the round of 16 of the Champions League.
20:45 – Arsenal loses little
Leader of the Premier League, Arsenal has only three defeats in all competitions this season in 19 matches. The first was recorded in the Champions League in Lens on October 3 (1-2), when the next two came three days apart on November 1 in the round of 16 of the League Cup at West Ham (1). -3) and November 4 in the Premier League at Newcastle (0-1).
20:40 – The Emirates, the London fortress
Arsenal are still undefeated this season at home. In front of the Emirates Stadium crowd, the Gunners played 9 matches for 7 wins and 2 draws, in all competitions. In the European Cup, this invincibility at home has lasted for 8 matches and the arrival of Olympiakos, on March 18, 2021, in the round of 16 second leg of the Europa League.
20:35 – Not easy far from Bollaert
If successful in London, Lens would sign their first away victory in the Champions League in the 21st century. The Artesian club has not won away from Bollaert in C1 since its trip to Wembley on November 25, 1998 where a goal from Mickaël Debève allowed it to defeat…Arsenal (1-0). Since then, Lens has had 2 draws and 3 defeats.
20:30 – Solidity where are you?
If it has regained its defensive solidity in Ligue 1 with no goals conceded in its last five matches, Lens does not display the same statistics in the Champions League. In the continent’s flagship competition, the Artésiens have conceded a goal in each of their first four matches this season and have not kept a clean sheet for 11 matches (17 goals conceded, editor’s note), and a trip to Arsenal…the November 25, 1998 (1-0).
20:25 – A defeat in 2 months
Since the Champions League began on September 20, RC Lens has only one defeat to its credit in 12 matches played in all competitions. It was last November 8 on the pitch of PSV Eindhoven (0-1).
20:20 – Update on the injured
For this 5th match of Group B, RC Lens will not be able to count on two of its players. In addition to Jimmy Cabot, not yet recovered from his rupture of the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee suffered in October 2022, the northern club will have to do without Oscar Cortés (shin) while Deiver Machado (adductors) is recovered. In the Arsenal camp, three players are also missing: Emile Smith-Rowe (knee), Jurrien Timber (knee) and Thomas Partey (hamstring).
20:15 – Bollaert’s feat
During the first leg, RC Lens caused a sensation by overthrowing Arsenal at Bollaert (2-1). Trailing after only 14 minutes of play following a goal from Gabriel Jesus, the Sang et Or quickly equalized through Thomasson before Wahi set the northern enclosure ablaze in the 69th minute.
20:10 – Act VII
This is the seventh time that Arsenal and RC Lens have met on the European scene. The balance sheet is perfectly balanced since the two teams have two successes each, for two draws.
20:05 – A Portuguese referee blowing the whistle
The match will be refereed by the Portuguese Mr. Artur Dias. He will be assisted by his compatriots Mr. Paulo Soares and Mr. Pedro Ribeiro. Another Lusitanian, Mr. Miguel Nogueira, will officiate as 4th referee. Video refereeing will be provided by the Portuguese pair Tiago Martins-Hugo Miguel.