Arsenal vs RC Lens | Live Stream
Mikel Arteta will want Champions League progression as group winners as Arsenal will target a win and revenge over RC Lens in North London.
Arsenal are getting themselves in strong positions in the most important competitions, as Mikel Arteta aims to reign supreme in their Champions League group when they take on RC Lens this week. In what was an eventful weekend for the Gunners, who finished at the top of the Premier League standings, their manager does not wish to complicate things in Europe.
Mathematically, both RC Lens and PSV Eindhoven could still trump the Gunners. But that would need a monumental downfall from Arteta’s men at this stage. Arsenal are on the brink of qualification to the next round, and a point will take them there. But a win will guarantee them the status of group winners.
Arsenal had suffered a few stumbles before the international break but come into this fixture high on confidence after their weekend endeavours. A late Kai Havertz goal ensured the Gunners finished on top of the Premier League standings after Gameweek 13. They will now aim for another midweek win to seal the Champions League group.
While Arsenal have a cushion to ease their pressure, RC Lens come to the Emirates knowing they need a victory to progress. Franck Haise will hope his team shows the character they displayed when the Gunners came to France, with Lens winning that reverse fixture to go top of the group.
Having gone unbeaten in their first three Champions League games, Lens went from first to third in no time courtesy of their loss to PSV during the previous matchday. They are currently level on points with their Dutch counterparts but below on direct head-to-head record in this group stage.
Since that defeat, Lens have won their next two Ligue 1 games, with a comfortable 3-0 win over Clermont Foot at the weekend. Yet, they will have to dig deep to find a way in North London, especially given this is a must-win encounter. A win here, and one for PSV in the other game, could open up this group, although a defeat in the same scenario would make them favourites to play the Europa League in 2024.
David Raya and Ben White should return to the lineup for this midweek clash, but Arteta will likely keep hold of the in-form Oleksandr Zinchenko at left-back. Takehiro Tomiyasu will drop down to the bench and get some rest.
Arteta could also bring Jorginho in his midfield to start alongside Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard. Saturday’s match-winner, Kai Havertz, might continue from the bench and get a run in as a substitute at some stage.
The big concern for Arteta will come in the form of managing the fitness of Gabriel Jesus. The Arsenal No.9 made a quicker-than-expected recovery from a hamstring problem and has since started two games quickly. Arteta does have options in Leandro Trossard and Eddie Nketiah and may end up selecting the former in place of the Brazilian from the start.