ARSENAL have sailed into the Champions League Last 16 after demolishing Lens 6-0 last night at the Emirates.
Goals from Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard and Jorginho ensured that the Gunners booked their place with a top spot finish.
On the transfer front, midfielder Douglas Luiz is reportedly at the top of the Arsenal transfer wish list in January.
However the Gunners have been hit with an injury blow with Fabio Vieira ruled out for the remainder of 2023 after picking up a groin issue. The 23-year-old will undergo surgery for the problem.
PADDY POWER WELCOME OFFR – Get £40 in free bet builder bets
Follow ALL the action with our live blog below…
- By Kostas Lianos
Arsenal still keen on Luiz
Arsenal are still keeping tabs on Aston Villa star Douglas Luiz ahead of the January transfer window.
Transfer insider Fabrizio Romano reports Luiz is still top of the Gunners’ transfer wishlist.
The midfielder notched an assist as Villa defeated Spurs 2-1 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday.
However, the Villans are dead against selling the Brazil international.
- By Kostas Lianos
Fabio Vieira injury
Arsenal ace Fabio Vieira has been ruled out for the remainder of 2023.
Vieira picked up a groin injury that will keep him sidelined until at least January.
The 23-year-old is set to undergo surgery and will then go through rehabilitation.
The Portuguese ace has featured 13 times this season and has scored once.
- By Kostas Lianos
Arsenal are through
Arsenal punched their ticket to the Champions League's Last 16 by topping Group B.
The Gunners went through in style as they destroyed Lens 6-0 at the Emirates.
That was thanks to goals by Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard and Jorginho.
That means the North Londoners will be seeded in the upcoming draw.
- By Alex Smith
Off your seats
There was chaos at the Emirates as Arsenal stars had a CHAIR and lighters thrown at them from the stands.
It came as they thrashed Lens 6-0 in their penultimate Champions League group stage game.
Credit: Reuters - By Alex Smith
Who is through?
12 teams have booked their places in the last 16:
- Real Madrid
- Atletico Madrid
- Real Sociedad
- Barcelona
- Manchester City
- Arsenal
- PSV
- Inter Milan
- Lazio
- RB Leipzig
- Borussia Dortmund
- Bayern Munich
Standings
Arsenal have qualified in first place and PSV are guaranteed second.
Lens and Sevilla will battle it out for a spot in the Europa League.
- Arsenal 12pts
- PSV 8pts
- Lens 5pts
- Sevilla 2pts
Top Gun
Arsenal star Bukayo Saka wrote himself into the Champions League history books with a stunning performance against Lens.
The Gunners ran riot in the first-half, scoring five goals.
Saka tapped home the third of the game from close range after setting up Gabriel Jesus for the second following a mazy run into the box.
The winger made history with his fantastic display, joining an elite club with Karim Benzema and Luis Suarez.
He became just the third player since Champions League records began to score and assist in three consecutive home games.
Super Saka
Bukayo Saka said this after the final whistle:
"Everyone is really happy. It's our first time back in the Champions League for a while and we've qualified with a game to go.
"When we first looked at our group we wanted to finish top. We've done that so can be proud.
"The boss is already reminding us to just enjoy a little bit and then focus on Wolves on Saturday."
'Beautiful'
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta speaking to TNT Sports: "Today was the day to get it done. We did it in a beautiful way.
"We scored five goals (in the first half) against a really good side. You can become really slopp and there were parts of the second half with different behaviours but we stayed really focused."
- By Alex Smith
Read the full report
Arsenal blasted through the speed barrier as they racked up their 100th Champions League victory to secure their place in the last 16.
Mikel Arteta had complained that his team have been stuck in traffic all season and struggling to find a bit of open road in their opponents’ penalty area.
But they finally hit top gear to leave bewildered Lens stuck on the grid and in desperate need of emergency repairs.
ARSENAL 6 LENS 0 Gunners run riot to top Champions League group with a game to go
- By Alex Smith
FT: Arsenal 6-0 Lens
Arsenal got their revenge and hit the French side for six.
The Gunners have confirmed top spot with a game to spare.
- By Alex Smith
Let's talk about six
It gets worse for Lens, the referee goes to the monitor to check a possible handball and a penalty is given.
Odegaard was initially going to step up before handing the ball to Jorginho.
And the Italian made no mistake to make it 6-0.
ARSENAL 6 LENS 0 Rampant Gunners sailing into Champions League Last 16 as group winners
- By Alex Smith
Record breakers
Arsenal are the first English team in Champions League history to lead by five or more goals at half-time.
What a performance.
- By Alex Smith
The situation
Tonight's permutations with Arsenal cruising.
- Arsenal will qualify for the knockout stages with at least a draw
- The Gunners will be confirmed winners of their group if they take maximum points
- PSV Eindhoven will also qualify for the knockout stages if Arsenal win as Lens won't be able to bridge the gap
- Sevilla are out
High five
Seconds before half-time, Odegaard is next on the scoresheet.
Arsenal tempt Lens forward then hit them on the break with Saka and then Tomiyasu overlaps.
The right-back puts in a cross and Odegaard finishes it to make it 5-0.
ARSENAL 6 LENS 0 Rampant Gunners sailing into Champions League Last 16 as group winners
- By Alex Smith
Make that four
Arsenal are cruising – Martinelli bends in a fourth goal absolutely brilliantly.
The Gunners are easing their way into the last 16.
Two and then three
A surging run by Saka sees the ball eventually fall to Jesus, who tucks it away brilliantly after turning in the box.
Just two minutes and 20 seconds later Arsenal have a third.
Martinelli sees a shot saved and Samba palms it into the path of Saka.
It hits the winger and rolls in, 3-0, game, set and match already.
ARSENAL 6 LENS 0 Rampant Gunners sailing into Champions League Last 16 as group winners
- By Alex Smith
Havertz scores
He has found his shooting boots – Havertz puts Arsenal 1-0 up.
He is in the right place at the right time to convert after Gabriel Jesus out jumped his marker to put the ball on a plate for his colleague from six-yards out.
Elsewhere in Group B…
PSV Eindhoven came from 2-0 down to beat Sevilla 3-2.
The Dutch side seemed to be heading for defeat but scored a 92nd minute winner to secure three points away from home.
It all changed after Lucas Ocampos was sent off on the 66th minute.
Kick-off
Arsenal's huge Champions League clash with Lens is live.
Follow SunSport's coverage here:
ARSENAL 6 LENS 0 Rampant Gunners sailing into Champions League Last 16 as group winners
- By Alex Smith
Hale Enders
Both Myles Lewis-Skelly, 17, and Ethan Nwaneri, 16, are on the bench tonight.
The two have impressed in the Arsenal youth setup and have been tipped for big things.
Nwaneri has one senior appearance to his name as he came off the bench for a brief cameo last September against Brentford.
Aged 15, it made him the youngest ever player to feature in a Premier League match.
- By Alex Smith
Top Gunners
Leandro Trossard has opened up on the connection he has with Bukayo Saka.
“It’s a coincidence at the moment. Bukayo has so much quality and it doesn’t really matter who is on the ball, I always try to get into great positions.
“He has already showed that last pass that he can make that one and you need to be ready for it to come.
“Every goal I got on the end of it and hopefully there are many more to come.”
- By Alex Smith
Lens starting XI
Starting XI: Samba; Gradit, Danso, Medina, Frankowsi, Mendy, Abdul Samed, Haidara, Sotoca, Fulgini, Wahi
Subs: Leca, Pandor, Aguilar, Machado, Pereira Da Costa, Diouf, Maouassa, Said, El Aynaoui, Khusanov, Thomasson
- By Alex Smith
Arsenal starting XI
Starting XI: Raya; Tomiyasu, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko; Odegaard, Rice, Havertz; Martinelli, Saka, Jesus.
Subs: Ramsdale, Hein, White, Cedric, Kiwior, Jorginho, Elneny, Nelson, Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri, Trossard, Nketiah
Follow SunSport's live coverage here:
ARSENAL 6 LENS 0 Rampant Gunners sailing into Champions League Last 16 as group winners
- By Alex Smith
Injury troubles
Martin Odegaard has opened up about recent injury problems.
Multiple issues saw the midfielder miss three matches as well as an international game for Norway.
Odegaard said: "The last few weeks missing those games were tough for me because I don’t like being away from the team and watching the games from home is not what I like either.
“I had a bit of bad luck, because first of all there was an issue with my hip, then while I was dealing with that I got a concussion as well, which ruled me out of a couple of games too.
"Then on top of that I got sick, so I had a few rough weeks, but the most important thing is that I’m back now and feeling better.
“I missed some games for the national team too, and I never want to do that either, but we had already missed out on qualification, so maybe the timing could have been worse.
"I was able to stay here and focus on my recovery."
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6…
- 82
- 1
- 2
- 3
- 4
- 5
- 6
- 7
- 8
- 9
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14…
- 82
Source: Read Full Article
- By Alex Smith
