La joie des Gunners. MATTHEW CHILDS / REUTERS
Arsenal humiliated Lens on Wednesday evening (6-0), during the 5th day of Group B of the Champions League. A setback which marks the elimination of the Blood and Gold.
Arsenal hosted RC Lens this Wednesday evening at the Emirates Stadium, during the 5th day of Group B of the Champions League. A fairly important match for the Sang et Or who were playing for their survival in Europe after PSV’s victory against Sevilla FC earlier in the evening. To hope to stay alive in the Champions League or the Europa League, the Lensois had to win or draw in England but everything did not go as planned, to say the least. Franck Haise’s men were crushed (6-0).
In the first half, Arsenal quickly got on the ball to take possession of the game. The German striker, Kai Havertz, opened the scoring by taking, in front of goalkeeper Brice Samba, a deflection of the head of Gabriel Jesus (13th). A few minutes later, Arsenal doubled down on a collective action during which Arteta’s players were able to combine too easily and penetrate the Lens area. The Brazilian striker, Gabriel Jesus, took advantage of the space to place a flat foot and double the lead (21st). Immediately on the following action, the Gunners combined again very quickly and Buyako Saka took advantage of the passivity of the defense to push the ball into the back of the net to finally take cover, after a poorly diverted first strike from Martinelli ( 23rd).
A real slap in the face from the Gunners
In a new counter phase, won by intense pressing, Gabriel Martinelli easily played Frankowski and curled a shot into the small net of Samba (27th). On a cross from Tomiyasu, Martin Odegaard volleyed home to score the fifth goal (45th+1). In the second act, the two teams calmed the game down. Arsenal deprived Lens of the ball, while the Sang et Or did not seem motivated to win the match. The blocks came back down and played the cautious card. No big opportunity in this second half. Unsurprisingly, there were few chances on this recovery. Arsenal managed quietly. Lens seemed to have given up. But on a handball from young Khusanov, Arsenal obtained a penalty converted by Jorginho to lock in the big victory (6-0). With this result, RC Lens is in 3rd position and can no longer hope to qualify, while Arsenal are alone in the lead with 12 points. In the other Group B match, Sevilla FC lost to PSV.
