Arsenal can book their place in the Champions League last 16 with a victory at the Emirates against Lens on Wednesday night, meaning Mikel Arteta will have achieved one of his main targets for the season already.
It would have been extremely disappointing for Arsenal’s return to the Champions League to end in a group stage exit, so the fact they can secure safe passage with a game to spare will be a big relief. Lens have every incentive to show the Gunners a hard time here, given they themselves are level with PSV Eindhoven on five points and can still qualify too.
The fact that Lens won the reverse fixture in France will also give them confidence that they have what it takes to beat Arsenal again. They are also unbeaten in Ligue 1 in the last eight games, so this is a confident side that travels to the Emirates Stadium.
Arsenal vs Lens H2H Record (all time)
Current Form (all competitions)
|
Country |
TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
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United Kingdom |
discovery+ App, TNT Sports 2, TNT Sports Ultimate, discovery+ |
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United States |
ViX, Paramount+ |
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Canada |
DAZN Canada |
Arsenal are still struggling with a few absentees but the situation is not as bad as many of the teams around them. Of course, Jurrien Timber remains out of action with the injury he suffered at the start of the season and they still don’t have Thomas Partey available.
Emile Smith Rowe is a doubt but there is a chance that he makes it onto the bench. Arteta is going to want these rotational options available to him as the season progresses for matches like this one.
David Raya should return in goal after being ineligible to face his parent club Brentford on Saturday.
Arsenal predicted lineup vs Lens (4-3-3): Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Rice, Trossard; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli
There is a suspension for Lens to deal with as Morgan Guilavogui is not allowed to face Arsenal following a red card in the club’s Champions League game against PSV. They also have a number of players out injured at the moment.
Wuilker Farinez, Jimmy Cabot and Deiver Machado are all sidelined, but Oscar Cortes is back in training after a thigh injury and could make his return for the trip to London.
Arsenal predicted lineup vs Lens (3-4-3): Samba; Gradit, Khusanov, Medina; Aguilar, El Aynaoui, Abdul Samed, Frankowski; Thomasson, Wahi, Fulgini
Arsenal did not exactly storm past Brentford at the weekend as they required an 89th minute winner from Kai Havertz, while Lens won 3-0 away at Clermont Foot. The French side will arrive with confidence that they can get something against Arsenal again.
That being said, Arsenal have the superior squad and home advantage, and Mikel Arteta is unlikely to let the standards slip at all as he knows that getting qualification sewn up early can be invaluable. It may not be easy, but Arsenal should get the three points.
Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Lens
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