With a masterful display at the Emirates Stadium, Arsenal blasted Lens for six goals to earn their spot in the UEFA Champions League knockout stage.
In an incredible first half, Mikel Arteta’s team scored five goals and again tore apart Lens with some of their finest offensive play.
After 13 minutes, Kai Havertz opened the score with a flick-on goal from Gabriel Jesus. Eight minutes later, the Brazilian doubled the lead with a beautiful finish after cutting onto his right foot on the edge of the box.
A six-minute burst of goals saw Gabriel Martinelli score the best goal of the game with a stunning drive that curled into the far bottom corner after the ball deflected in off Bukayo Saka from close range to make it 3-0.
Arsenal kept playing amazing football, and Martin Odegaard kept the score safe. A late penalty kick from Jorginho added even more lustre to a result that gave the Gunners first place in Group B with a game remaining, allowing Arteta to focus on the Premier League heading into a busy December.
Arsenal was defeated by Lens, a respectable team, in their first group stage encounter. However, all of the top clubs on the continent would have taken note of how Arteta’s team decimated them at the Emirates.
This kind of performance marks a team as a possible champion, and Arsenal demonstrated that they have an abundance of weapons this year.
The two summer additions, Havertz and Declan Rice, were especially noteworthy for their effect. They are both playing excellently in the middle of the park and are pushing the Premier League runners-up from the previous season to new heights.
Havertz stole the show in the first half, starting the game right in the heart of things and scoring the goal that his early efforts earned to make it two in a row. Havertz was one of several Arsenal players who distinguished out on a fantastic night.
That gave the German player a lot of confidence, and he performed brilliantly ever after. He appeared in dangerous spots in the midfield and looked like the player that first drew Chelsea’s attention when they signed him in 2020 after he was released by Bayer Leverkusen.
Though he hasn’t shown much of a strutting Havertz throughout his time in London, the Gunners might be in for something amazing in the upcoming seasons if this performance serves as the catalyst for his career at the club.
Man United faces a real chance of missing out on the round of 16 draw on December 18 since there are currently 12 confirmed clubs.
The three-time European champion went behind 3-2 early in the second half and by two goals after 18 minutes against Galatasaray before being caught up in a thrilling 3-3 draw.
Another top team is Real Madrid. Following a 4-2 victory over Napoli in second place, the record 14-time champion will take first position in Group C.
Top-seeded teams avoid other group winners like reigning champion Manchester City and are seeded in the round of 16 draw on December 18. Moreover, teams cannot be matched up against national rivals.
On a night when there were thirty-one goals scored from the other six games, Bayern and Copenhagen drew 0-0.
Salzburg’s 0-0 draw with Real Sociedad set up a final-game matchup between second-place Inter Milan and San Siro for first place in Group D. Three weeks ago, Sociedad and Inter both made progress.
Union Berlin and Braga tied 1-1, although Braga may still go forward by defeating Napoli on December 12.
Mikel Arteta’s team easily defeated RC Lens 6-0 to win Group B and advance to the UEFA Champions League knockout rounds. Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Martin Odegaard were among the five goals the Gunners scored in an incredible first half. A late penalty kick by Jorginho completed the demolition job.