RC Lens traveled to London on Wednesday to face Arsenal and hope to repeat their performance from the first leg (2-1 victory). But the Sang et Or were far from this standard and were corrected (5-0) by the irresistible Gunners. The European dream of Franck Haise’s players is now in trouble.
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RC Lens sank against Arsenal on Wednesday, November 29, during the fifth day of the Champions League (5-0).
The Lensois start the match in 3-4-2-1 with a Sotoca-Fulgini duo in attack to feed Wahi up front. The Gunners play in a classic 4-3-3. The match starts at an intense pace on both sides, the two teams seem to be observing each other before crossing swords. No action in sight at first.
The Sang et Or defended diligently and also put together several interesting passing sequences, but they did not go beyond the midfield at the start of the match. The Gunners are not particularly dangerous for ten minutes, but Arsenal’s first foray is close to hitting the mark. After a combination between Saka and Tomiyasu on the right side, Havertz is found in the Lens area and his header brushes against Samba’s post. The Lensois goalkeeper seemed beaten at this point (11e).
It’s only a postponement… Two minutes later, on a cross, Gabriel Jesus puts the ball back in the center on Havertz, who takes advantage of the hesitation in the defense to get ahead of Samba and send the ball into the Lens cage (1- 0.13e). RC Lens is then virtually eliminated from the Champions League after PSV Eindhoven’s victory in the other match of the fifth day of the group stage.
And the RC Lens sank
The Sang et Or must react but cannot destabilize Arsenal. Worse, they will sink in six minutes. Gabriel Jesus first takes advantage of Saka’s good work in the middle to place a low strike (2-0, 21e). Then Saka victoriously regains the ball after a shot deflected by Samba in the Lens area (3-0, 24e). Martinelli, finally, walks with the ball on his left side before curling an unstoppable shot for the Lens goalkeeper (4-0, 27e). RC Lens is KO standing.
In half an hour, the Sang et Or did not create an opportunity, and in fifteen minutes they were pierced four times. It’s hard to imagine a glimmer of hope in these circumstances. Even when Sotoca believes he has won a penalty for a handball from Havertz in the Arsenal area, the referee does not whistle anything after checking the situation (35e). In the process, Wahi gets his team’s first shot on target but Raya intervenes well (37e).
Medina then believes he can reduce the score with a strike from 25 meters. Raya is beaten, but the ball crashes into the opponent’s left post. As for that… On the contrary, Arsenal accelerated one last time before half-time and worsened the score: Odegaard, found in the opposing area on a cross from Tomiyasu, crucified RC Lens with a half-volley from left (5-0, 45e+2). Lensois shipwreck in London.
A second act without relief
At the start of the second half, Lens had their foot on the ball but failed to create any danger in the Arsenal camp. For the Gunners, the hardest part is done, they can just manage their comfortable lead during this second act. The match takes place at a false rhythm as the mass seems already said. The ball turns between the 22 players, but no opportunity sees the light of day for the 45e at 65e minute.
The Lensois, for lack of anything better, made mistakes to prevent Arsenal from accelerating the game and were logically warned by the referee (Khusanov in the 63rdeHaidara at 64e). Arsenal gradually regains control of the ball and does not take long to recreate danger, as in this action where Samba has to work on the ground to avoid a sixth goal (67e).
Not much else to report in this lackluster second act, where Lens does not shoot once in the opposing goal (compared to six times during the first half). Arsenal manages their lead and tries to exploit a few offensive situations, but the essentials have already been acquired. The Gunners, who seemed satisfied with the already heavy score, did not miss the opportunity to increase the score with a penalty from Jorginho following a handball from Khusanov (86e6-0).
In the final minutes, the crowd at the Emirates Stadium exclaimed with “Olé” every time the Gunners made the Sang et Or run. The rout was total. It’s an evening to forget for RC Lens.
