Match Report – Match Highlights – Post-Match Press Conference
Final Result: Arsenal 6-0 Lens (Havertz 13′, Jesus 21′, Saka 23′, Martinelli 27′, Odegaard 45′, Jorginho 86′)
Arsenal XI (4-3-3): Raya; Zinchenko (Kiwior 46′), Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu (White 46′); Rice (Jorginho 75′), Odegaard, Havertz; Martinelli, Saka (Nelson 68?), Jesus (Nketiah 82?)
RC Lens was the first team to beat Arsenal this season, so this would have beared down on Mikel Arteta’s mind, and the Arsenal gaffer knew the opportunity existed to wrap up qualification to the next round with a victory over the French outfit. The manager’s team selection proved that he meant business with his big guns starting in every position, with Ben White’s minutes still managed, allowing Takehiro Tomiyasu to continue his run out.
Arsenal drew first blood when Kai Havertz rose the highest to meet Tomiyasu’s cross but his header went far off the mark. However, the lanky midfielder shrugged off that miss by getting his second open play goal in back-to-back games when he latched onto Gabriel Jesus’ dinked header into the six yard box and toe poked the ball home. For a player that has been much maligned for a considerable chunk of his Arsenal career, this was another great moment for him.
Arsenal doubled their money when Saka showed great movement in the box and found Gabriel Jesus who exhibited insane composure to send a defender to the cleaners before placing the ball past Brice Samba. Jesus’ Champions League form has been very good. Long may it continue.
We were still basking in the euphoria of Jesus’ sumptuous goal when Saka popped up with his. Martinelli found a spot in the box, blasted his shot straight at Samba, who parried the ball to Saka’s mid-rift for one of the easiest goals he’d ever score. The party continued with Martinelli doing his thing on the left before curling one past Samba. Odegaard completed the first half rout when he latched onto Tomiyasu’s cross with a one time drive that went past a rooted Samba.
Arteta switched both fullbacks at the start of the second half, but Arsenal expectedly took their foot off the pedal. Saka, Rice and Jesus left afterwards and Arsenal had one more moment to put some icing on the well baked cake when Khusmanov whacked Martinelli in the face, but the penalty was only gifted because of the handball. Odegaard stood to take the spot kick but Jorginho requested for it. Bearing in mind that Odegaard has had some penalties handed to him by Saka, the captain did the right thing handing the ball over to allow Jorginho score his first goal for the club since his winter arrival last season.
Sevilla somehow contrived to lose at home to PSV Eindhoven, making the Matchday 6 game between PSV and Arsenal as dead rubber as they come with Arsenal assured of first place and PSV assured of the runner up spot. Lens, despite the decimation, still have the Europa League to fight for when they host Sevilla in the next matchday.
Arsenal decimated Lens in a beautiful night of European football.
Sayonara.
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