Mikel Arteta has confessed he could have hardly dreamed of a better performance from his Arsenal side as they cruised past Lens on Wednesday.
The Gunners booked their place in the knockout stages of the Champions League with a 6-0 mauling of the French outfit at the Emirates, sealing their spot as winners of Group B in the process.
Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard were all on target in a dominant first half, before substitute Jorginho netted a late penalty to secure Arsenal‘s second-biggest Champions League victory of all time.
“It was a genuine dream,” Arteta reflected. “We had a chance to qualify today and we’ve done it in a really convincing way against a really good side. The team from the beginning showed a lot of aggression and determination to go for the game.
“It’s great we’re able to win in this way and we showed at home not to concede any goals and score a lot which is a positive factor. The players need to believe we can do that against big opponents.”
He added to TNT Sports: “It has to be [one of the best first-half performances he’s seen], when you score five goals in the first half in the Champions League against a really good side, the boys deserve the credit, they were really good.
“You can become really sloppy and there were parts in the second half when you start to see different behaviours but the team stayed really focused. We haven’t conceded a goal in the Champions League at home so it’s good, good stats.”
Striker Jesus, who netted his fourth Champions League goal in as many games, admitted the game was the perfect preparation for Saturday’s clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
“From the start we were amazing,” he said. “We go full gas.
“The team performance was top – now we have to keep going because on Saturday we have another big one.
“Playing at home, our fans’ support is always amazing and they push us. Qualifying first is important, so congratulations to the whole team.”
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