Lens vs Arsenal LIVE: Latest updates as Arteta has injury worries for Champions League clash – stream, TV, team news
ARSENAL are looking to maintain their 100 per cent start in the Champions League when they head to France tonight.
The Gunners reignited their Premier League title aspirations by capitalising on Manchester City’s slip-up at Wolves by smashing Bournemouth 4-0 at the weekend.
Today however they face a tough challenge as the focus switches back to Europe against last season’s Ligue 1 runners-up.
- Kick off time: 8pm BST
- TV channel: TNT Sports 2
- Live stream: discovery+
- Lens team: To follow…
- Arsenal team: To follow…
That result moved Mikel Arteta team to within a point of the leaders.
Arsenal celebrated their Champions League return with a 4-0 demolition of the Dutch giants PSV on the opening day at the Emirates.
But they will face a much stiffer test across the Channel later in Lens, who drew with Sevilla 1-1 a fortnight ago.
Franck Haise’s side have endured a mixed start domestically this term.
They have only managed two wins out of their opening seven matches in the top-flight.
But with French U21 forward Elye Wahi in their ranks, they always possess a threat.
The 20-year-old, a club-record £30.3m summer signing from Montpellier, got 19 goals last season to earn his big-money switch.
And now he will go into the Arsenal clash full of confidence after ending his duck at Lens and scoring the winner at Strasbourg on Friday.
That result appears to have confirmed his side are back in the swing of things, and they will be desperate to take the scalp of Arsenal and bolster their hopes of advancing into the knockouts.
What is their form like?
Arsenal head into the clash still unbeaten in all competitions this campaign.
They have won every game apart from two – both of which were 2-2 home draws against Fulham and Tottenham respectively.
As for Lens, they finally got their first league victory on September 24.
But they followed that up with another one at Strasbourg and will now be desperate to make it three wins on the spin when the Gunners get to town.
What’s the team news and any injuries to worry about?
Lens are set to be without the likes of Wuilker Fairnez, Jimmy Cabot, David Costa and Massadio Haidara.
But Arteta is hoping winger Gabriel Martinelli could return to the Gunners squad on Tuesday after missing the last four games due to injury.
Bukayo Saka limped off in Arsenal’s 4-0 win away at Bournemouth on the weekend.
Arteta has eased fears over the extent of the damage and revealed he has travelled, but the England star may not be risked for the trip to France with the Gunners playing title rivals Manchester City on Sunday.
Thomas Partey has returned to training this week and could feature against Lens.
Who will be the star men?
With doubts of Saka, captain Martin Odegaard will once again be the man that Gooners will be looking to for some inspiration.
The Norwegian has been in stunning form so far this term and the midfielder grabbed his fifth goal of the season against Bournemouth.
Meanwhile, Wahi will be the man that Arsenal need to keep an eye on.
Despite his slow start, last week’s strike will have felt like a weight lifted from his shoulders.
And he will be desperate to continue his scoring exploits against the Prem giants.
Arteta was buoyed to have midfielder Thomas Partey on the verge of returning as he said: “Thomas has progressed really well in the last two weeks and he’s managed to train in the last two or three days with the team.
HIGHEST PAYOUT ONLINE CASINOS FOR UK PLAYERS
Follow our live blog below…