Just one point needed to qualify for the UCL round of 16
Mikel Arteta and his Arsenal squad will welcome RC Lens tomorrow night in our 5th game of the group stages. Arsenal just need one point to qualify and are looking likely to go straight through to the next round as Group Winners. Last time out against Lens we walked away 2-1 losers and took our first loss in this season’s tournament, so Wednesday will be important for us to win.
Our Champions League campaign has been pretty good, having won 4 and only lost 1 and are sitting at the top of Group B on 9 points, looking likely to be automatically promoted unless something crazy happened. Worst does comes to worst, we automatically go into the Europa League, but that doesn’t look likely. With home advantage and a huge crowd expected, Arsenal will be the favourites to win and with almost a full-strength squad, we look ready to go.
In our last meeting Bukayo Saka went down and was forced off early with an hamstring injury, which for me, completely changed the game and how we set up tactically, it was almost like losing him had us a bit shaken and we lost sight on the goal. Coming into Wednesday’s match, we have most players fit and ready to go, with the exceptions of Jurrien Timber (out for the season), Thomas Partey (out till January) and Emile Smith Rowe (unknown return date but looking to be a while), and we will be the better team on paper.
This is a must-win game for RC Lens also, currently sitting 2nd in the group on equal point to PSV and will need a win to secure their qualification into the next round, so it won’t be an easy game for Arsenal and I’d expect them to leave everything they have on the pitch. Lens will be missing some key players with Morgan Guilavogui out of contention due to being sent off against PSV and Deiver Machado is set to miss the match due to a groin injury, and Arsenal could use that to their advantage.
Odegaard and Jesus were both back in the starting line up on the weekend against Brentford and will be expected to start against Lens. Fabio Vieira will be available for contention as his domestic ban only applies to the Premier League.
A huge game for both sides and it won’t be an easy one for Arsenal. Last time out Lens were very aggressive and arguably escaped a few cards, and Arsenal should be expecting the same type of thing this time. Arsenal fans will be praying we don’t see any more injuries and that the game is a clean one. The Emirates should be rocking and with a sold-out crowd expected, there looks like there’s no better place to be on Wednesday night.
What’s your thoughts Gooners? Can we beat Lens and get automatic promotion out of the way?
Daisy Mae
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This is a huge game for both sides, I expect the big German to figure prominently in this one maybe as some sorts of rewards for the ugly win in the league.
The gaffer has to start the Englishman between the sticks to help rescue his confidence, and dampened the media attempt in ridiculing the lad dilemma.
But still buoyed by the cliffhanger victory, it is going to take an act of God to deny us all the spoil on our favorite stomping ground
You forgot to mention a few Brazilians, a Japanese, a Ukrainian, a Norwegian, et al……….
We must win this game, period.
Very important to win the group with a game to spare. Affords the team to rotate and rest players for the last group game, which would be a huge relief given the fixture congestion in the coming weeks.
“must win this game” = utter non-sense
if Sevilla beat PSV at home in the early kick-off then Arsenal are guaranteed to progress to the knock-out phase before even kicking a ball!
and even if Sevilla don’t win, Arsenal just need a draw against Lens to guarantee last 16 action
and then even a draw against PSV in the last game will guarantee we are top of the group
so a very long way from a ‘die in the ditch, win at all costs’ match
if Arteta is smart, Sevilla finishes more than an hour before kick-off at the Emirates, he can delay his naming his final XI until he knows what’s needed
Probably a good idea but Sevilla/PSV starts at 5:45 whereas our game begins at 8:00.
you are right, the maths doesn’t quite add up
nonetheless the result will certainly be known by kick-off and influence our approach
the reality is I would expect Arsenal to win this game at home to Lens comfortably even with a number of changes to the XI
my core comment this is very far from a “must win game” stands
We’d better get three points to become the group table leader, regardless of the other game results
If we end up in the second position, we would likely meet Bayern Muenchen, Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Atletico Madrid, Man City or Barcelona in knockout stage
Gai, from what I have watched apart from Bayern, most teams haven’t been exceptional in UCL this term. However, they have better experience than our current Arsenal team. Our boys skill set is better than some that I have watched and I think they will give the big boys a run for their money. In my opinion wether 1st or 2nd spot is no guarantee of goin far in Ucl.
agreed
while a Champions League run is fun the probability of winning it is low in reality
Premier League should be our priority
currently top of the Premier League due to Saliba/Gabriel partnership, losing either one could be fatal to our chances
remember the return leg of Sporting last season and losing Saliba, and subsequently the Premier League, to a needless injury
for me Champions League the same this year, happy for a Cup run but not a ‘win at all costs’
If we meet a smaller team, at least we’d get a better chance to go to the next knockout stage
The coming fixture congestion is very important issue and we should go all out to win the group now. We don’t want to go to Aston Villa on the Saturday before needing a win or draw the following Tuesday at PSV.
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Agreed
They will play like it’s a cup final. We need to start with our strongest side and start fast out the blocks to dictate the pace, otherwise we will lose. Keep the experimental players on the bench for this game and start with our best 11.
Daveg – please refer above – Cup Final, really?!?
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“It won’t be an easy game”? Haha, those guys are in for a long night tomorrow!
Here we go again Jon – everyone knows what Daisy was getting at, but you have to correct her in such a nasty way.
Personally, I would expect a TRUE FAN to know that MA won the fa cup when he was our coach and that he also is our most successful coach to date.
I would also expect a TRUE FAN to know that we were top of the PL for 248 days and eight points clear, thus holding the enviable record of being the first PL club to blow such an advantage.
Now I know it wasn’t Daisy who didn’t know those details, but is it worth trying to highlight who it was?
As this is a site for The Arsenal, surely knowing our history is more important than the three and/or four times table?
As for the match itself, we will win it, of that I have no doubt.
Just give her a break my friend, as I’m sure Daisy will one day have a best seller.
Halfway through my article about players salaries etc and I’m finding it really hard to find out the reported salaries of The Invincibles… any suggestions?