Arsenal will look to clinch their place in the last 16 of the Champions League when they welcome Lens to the Emirates on Wednesday night.
Mikel Arteta’s men stretched their lead at the top of Group B to four points with a comfortable 2-0 win over Sevilla on matchday four. The Gunners will also go into this game occupying top spot in the Premier League table after battling to a 1-0 win at Brentford on Saturday.
Meanwhile, third-placed Lens’ hopes of reaching the knockout stages of the Champions League were dealt a blow when losing 1-0 at PSV earlier this month.
Arsenal picked up three points with relative ease in each of their previous two Group B home games in this season’s Champions League and another routine win seems likely when they take on Lens on Wednesday night. The Gunners should be fully motivated here given that a win would not only secure qualification, but it would also guarantee first spot in the group.
Mikel Arteta will also be mindful of the fact that a win on Wednesday night would afford him the luxury of rotating his resources against PSV on Matchday 6, which will provide added incentive given that the notoriously frantic festive period is looming.
However, Lens proved that they're no pushovers when they defeated Arsenal 2-1 in the reverse fixture so they should be more than capable of holding their own in North London. While Arsenal may face some resistance from their French guests, the hosts’ superior class should ultimately tell and they should earn another efficient win in front of an expectant Emirates crowd.
How are both teams expected to line up on Wednesday? Here are the predicted lineups from WhoScored.com with all the relevant team news.
Arsenal Predicted Lineup vs Lens
Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Rice, Havertz; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli
Lens Predicted Lineup vs Arsenal
Samba; Gradit, Danso, Medina; Aguilar, Mendy, Samed, Frankowski; Thomasson, Sotoca; Wahi
Efte209
1
Arsenal will win 3-0. Kai will scores again.
Kai scores again! Fantastic 😆
Apple-BEN⚽️⚽️
0
Gunners to beat Len but no Goal or assist for Kai I'm sorry
If arsenal loose today then draw the final match, and psv win their final 2 games, then ps4 will top the table
Princeadeyeye1
0
Arsenal 3: 1 Lens
rihacekor
3
gunners.make.samthing.like.4 .0 pls
Jahdiknpty
1
storeki team arsenal ju
zadbnuy
2
Arsenal 3-0 Lens
ClemJay
3
Arsenal is clearly winning this contest
Neaeiklrz
2
it a must win for the gunner's
Jeubeipyz
1
Arsenal 3 0 lens
Efte209
3
Arsenal will win 3-0. Kai will scores again.
gashantalle
2
"The Gunners should be fully motivated here given that a win would not only secure qualification, but it would also guarantee first spot in the group. " Can someone please explain to me how gunners can lose top spot or not qualify
TheO2man
0
Arsenal win bi, Jesus, Saka and Kai score. 3-1 Arsenal. No clean sheet for Raya, none.
That's my prayer. I feel for the poor boy. In any case, I want Raya to keep winning but not may clean sheets.
BanAllVisitors
0
Arsenal win bi, Jesus, Saka and Kai score. 3-1 Arsenal. No clean sheet for Raya, none.
Seems like you don't want us to keep a clean sheet just so it helps the case of your boy Ramsdale in our GK dilemma. Have some shame.
paddelmpr
2
Gunners to beat Len but no Goal or assist for Kai I'm sorry
TheO2man
3
Arsenal win bi, Jesus, Saka and Kai score. 3-1 Arsenal. No clean sheet for Raya, none.