All roads lead to Stade Bollaert-Delelis on Tuesday night for the Lens vs Arsenal UEFA Champions League Group B clash. Kick-off is 20:00 BST, 03 October 2023.
Lens played out a pulsating 1-1 draw away at Sevilla in their first game, and will now seek to pick up their first win of Group B to reposition themselves towards a good group finish.
On the other hand, Arsenal thrashed in-form PSV 4-0 at the Emirates to mark their return to the UCL in style. Mikel Arteta's men will now look to string back-to-back wins in the group and in a very difficult ground in French football.
Lens vs Arsenal probable lineups
This is how we think both teams will line up in this UCL match:
Lens
Goalkeeper: Brice Samba
Defenders: Jonathan Gradit, Kevin Danso, Facundo Medina.
Midfielders: Przemyslaw Frankowski, Nampalys Mendy, Salis Abdul Samed, Deiver Machado.
Forwards: Florian Sotoca, Angelo Fulgini, Elye Wahi.
Arsenal
Goalkeeper: David Raya.
Defenders: Oleksandr Zinchenko, Gabriel Magalhaes, William Saliba, Benjamin White.
Midfielders: Fabio Veira, Declan Rice, Martin Ødegaard.
Forwards: Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka.
Lens vs Arsenal confirmed lineups
Lens
Arsenal
*Lineups will be automatically updated shortly after they're released
Lens vs Arsenal predictions
The Gunners sit comfortably on top of Group B with three points and will look to perform well as they take on Lens. However, this game will hardly follow the pattern of the PSV rout because of how stubborn Lens can be at home. Here are three predictions we have assigned this match.
Prediction 1: Arsenal to win
Franck Haise's side suffered four defeats in their first five Ligue 1 games, but have recovered to stay unbeaten in their last three games ahead of the visit of the Gunners. Nonetheless, their new found form may not be enough to deny an Arsenal side who have strung five wins in their last six games. We are well aware of how difficult it is for visiting teams to pick up all three points at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis, still, we back Arsenal to earn a hard-fought win.
Prediction 2: Both teams to score
For one, Arsenal have scored in all ten games this season, a run dating back to the Community Shield clash with City on 6 August. Also, Lens have netted in six of the eight g toames they've played so far this campaign. It is important to point out that Arsenal have been involved in both sides scoring match on five occasions out of ten this season, while Haise's men have also done this in five out of the eight matches they've played. Bearing the above stats in mind, we're backing both sides to score here.
Prediction 3: Over 2.5 total goals
We've already established that Lens have played eight games; four of those ended with at least 3 goals. And for Arsenal, six of their ten games ended with over 2.5 scores. It shows these teams can score and also concede goals, this makes us anticipate a high-scoring affair on Tuesday night.
Lens vs Arsenal head-to-head
This game will be the first time both teams meet in a competition game. They previously met in a 2016 club friendly which ended 1-1 apiece.
Lens recent form
Strasbourg 0-1 Lens (29/09) – Ligue 1
Lens 2-1 Toulouse (24/09) – Ligue 1
Sevilla 1-1 Lens (20/09) – Champions League
Lens 0-1 Metz (16/09) – Ligue 1
Monaco 3-0 Lens (02/09) – Ligue 1
Arsenal recent form
Bournemouth 0-4 Arsenal (30/09) – Premier League
Brentford 0-1 Arsenal (27/09) – Carabao Cup
Arsenal 2-2 Tottenham (24/09) – Premier League
Arsenal 4-0 PSV (20/09) – Champions League
Everton 0-1 Arsenal (17/09) – Premier League
Where to watch Lens vs Arsenal live in UK and Nigeria
United Kingdom
For fans In the UK, Lens vs Fulham will be broadcast live on TNT Sports 2, discovery+ and discovery+ App.
Nigeria
Football fans in Nigeria will be able to watch the Lens vs Arsenal Champions League clash on DSTV Now and SuperSport Variety 3 channel.
This article was most recently revised and updated 3 weeks ago
