Arsenal: Raya, Tomiyasu, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Rice, Havertz, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Jesus
Subs: Ramsdale, Hein, White, Cedric, Kiwior, Jorginho, Elneny, Nelson, Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri, Trossard, Nketiah
Arsenal secured top spot and qualification into the Champions League knockout rounds after beating Lens 6-0 at Emirates Stadium, thanks to goals from Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard and Jorginho.
Mikel Arteta made two changes to the side that beat Brentford on Saturday with David Raya and Havertz coming in to replace Aaron Ramsdale and Leandro Trossard.
With Lens defending deep, it took Arsenal ten minutes to fashion their first opportunity when Havertz headed inches wide after Takehiro Tomiyasu did well to find him from the byline.
But the German would break the deadlock minutes later after good work from Jesus, who won a crucial header in the penalty box, allowing Havertz to ghost in ahead of goalkeeper Brice Samba and tap home. 1-0.
Arsenal doubled their lead in an instant through Jesus, who showed great composure to sit Kevin Danso down in a crowded area and finish low into the corner, continuing his excellent Champions League form under Mikel Arteta. 2-0.
Before the fans at Emirates Stadium could even finish celebrating, Saka made it three after Samba could only parry a curled effort from Martinelli straight onto his chest which trickled into an empty net – completing an 11-minute rout. 3-0.
With Lens clearly shellshocked, there was an attempt to slow the game down but they found the Gunners in electric form and after being denied minutes earlier, Martinelli would soon join the fun after beating the offside trap, cutting inside and curling a brilliant effort into the corner. 4-0.
According to Opta, Arsenal’s 4-0 lead within 27 minutes was the joint-fastest an English side has ever scored four in a Champions League game, equalling Manchester United v Brondby IF in November 1998 (who went on win the competition that season).
Despite conceding four, Lens still had moments and Elye Wahi looked likely up front before Facundo Medina struck the post from range, only for Odegaard to make it five(!) in first half injury time with a perfectly struck volley from close range after Tomiyasu did well to overlap. 5-0.
Understandably, the second period was played at a slower tempo with a hectic schedule in mind and Arteta made two half time changes with Tomiyasu and Oleksandr Zinchenko being replaced by Ben White and Jakub Kiwior.
There was even time for Havertz to bring out the party tricks, who Cruyff-turned away from substitute Abdukodir Khusanov by the corner flag and raced into the area, with his cutback finding Odegaard who saw his low shot saved by Samba.
After Ben White went close from a corner, Arsenal were awarded a penalty when Khusanov – following VAR review – was penalised for handball with Jorginho stepping up and cooly slotting home to make it six different scorers on the night. 6-0.
Arteta’s men weren’t able to match their highest scoring Champions League win (7-0 vs Slavia Prague, 2008) but things couldn’t have gone much better with the attack firing, players being rested and others getting important minutes.
Can we play the Champions League theme before every game? Get it done, Arsenal.
Seeing Arsenal score goals is good for your health
It’s a scientific fact.
Great result! More confidence for our attack, clean and we can rest players in the final group match. Fantastic!!!!!!
Hey, we say anything negative about them, it was them calling themselves farmers league.
I mean we never say
Been a lot of talk about our faltering attack but I think this is the first time we’ve been able to play our probable first choice front 3 and midfield this season. A bit of a throwback to last season, playing with directness and pace, now we just need to translate this into premier league performances.
Vary valid point. The plan always appears to have been two no.10s at 8 with a top class 6 – then a front 3 where the 9 brings the two wide players into play – how many times this season has that actually been able to have been deployed?
Also, UCL teams don’t tend to sit deep in disgusting low blocks. Look how we have blitzed PSV and Lens at the Emirates already.
We might just be in for a thrilling European campaign this season, fingers crossed.
Plus we scored pretty early. That also tends to get teams out of the parked bus.
Absolutely gutted to miss this match due to work until the client, who was a Chelsea fan, was astonished to see it 5-0 at halftime.
The look on his face *chef’s kiss*
Great performance. Most fluid we’ve been in attack for a while. Just wish Arteta would rest the main players a bit more. Being 5-0 up at half time why not take off Saka, Jesus etc etc.
Because these players deserve to play at the highest level? And want to? Imagine being hooked for the biggest games in your career? It always baffles me that fans want players rested for these games as if they don’t deserve to be on the European stage, the highlight of some players entire career
He also did take off two players at half time who are injury prone and critical to our attack and defense. Who are these people that fins something to moan about after a 6-0 goal fest.
Things are going well.
Top of the league, winning the group. I would even say very well!
Yes, I daresay things are of a decidedly not negative nature
Ok I see, so that’s what we look like when the attack clicks… very promising.
If Havertz can become a regular goal scorer, it goes some way towards solving our “desperate need” for a striker. I’m not sure anyone in that position is coming in January so this is a very welcome development.
Sweet revenge. Seems Kai didn’t need a sabbatical, but a positional switch to left back has unleashed King Kai.
That’ll do pig, that’ll do.
waka waka
The confidence oozing out of Kai Havertz every move tonight was a joy to behold. He is almost recognizable from the tentative fella who left for the international break under a cloud of not so disguised mockery from rival fans and pundits.
*Havertz’
*unrecognizable
We top the group with the best goal difference in Europe. I ain’t complaining tonight!
COYG
Woof
Don’t you need to win 3 sets to qualify in Wimbledon? Cuz at 6-0 I was surprised that the umpire stopped the game…
We destroyed them. And it feels like they were trying really hard. Your best chance against us is a low block. Otherwise we put you in your place.
low block, doubling up on wingers and a prayer
Shame every Premier League team saw that and reconfirmed their suspicion that yep, that’s the way to play us. Was hoping maybe winning at Brentford and a few other results we managed to squeak through against low blocks would maybe encourage teams to try something else… but reckon they’d much rather take their chances with that depressing low block than get humiliated like this, so we need to get much better at beating that too. Hopefully Kai’s head is in the right place now (see what I did there) to help us do that!
They did play a low block. Difference between this game and others this season is we scored early so they had to drop a low block.
Wow. I went into this hoping to win; Just not that.
I’m beginning to understand why we are coming up against so many low blocks, as tonight shows what can happen if you give us any room.
Tomiyasu in beast mode!
As good as this game was for us, sadly, get ready to welcome a double-decker bus against us in every match!
Gabriel Magalhaes! Take a bow, son. What a performance.
The importance of early goals means teams intending to sit back have to try and play football. I enjoyed the aggressiveness with which we approached the game. Was nice seeing Saka combine brain with brawn as opposed to relying entirely on his intelligence as is often the case.
Everyone (even Kai) looked so assertive and i guess Lens didn’t expect it and it messed uup their strategy.
Emphatic win, group leaders and maybe (i hope) that performance intimidates our opponent in the next round a little.
the Khai’s the limit for Havertz
Saliba celebrating a late block, to maintain our clean sheet, like he’d scored a goal. Great to see!
Think that was big Gabi but yes, great to see!