Arsenal’s return to the Champions League group stage this season hasn’t always been a walk in the park, but their 6-0 victory over Lens on Wednesday sealed their progression to the knockout stages for the first time since 2016 in some style.
Clearly motivated to enact their revenge on the French strugglers following that shock defeat in the reverse fixture, the Gunners frequently tore their opposition to shreds, with five different players: Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard, getting on the scoresheet before the break. The half-time winning margin was a record for an English team in the competition.
With the result essentially ensured, things rather died down in the second period. The only real action of note was Arsenal receiving a debatable penalty for handball, which substitute Jorginho calmly converted. However, the Gunners fans lucky enough to be in attendance on this bitterly cold night in north London won’t forget those first-half fireworks any time soon.
90minsoccer rates Arsenal’s players from the Emirates Stadium…
Goalkeeper & Defence
David Raya (6/10):
Had one sketchy moment in the first half, but put in a largely confident display.
Takehiro Tomiyasu (8/10):
Notched two assists in a mightily-impressive performance. Ben White has a fight on his hands for the starting spot.
William Saliba (6/10):
Did not start brilliantly but Lens soon stopped troubling him once the goals started flying in.
Gabriel (8/10):
Outshone his defensive partner on this occasion. His impassioned celebration of a clearance at the death delighted the home crowd.
Oleksandr Zinchenko (7/10):
Kept Arsenal moving in possession and never troubled defensively. Taken off at half-time.
Midfield
Martin Odegaard (7/10):
Took his goal superbly and orchestrated Arsenal’s effective press.
Declan Rice (7/10):
An extremely comfortable night for the dominant midfielder.
Kai Havertz (7/10):
His second goal in as many games will do the German a world of good. Was tidy other than that.
Attack
Bukayo Saka (8/10):
Didn’t know much about his goal, but they all count! Absolutely outstanding work for Jesus’ strike.
Gabriel Jesus (8/10):
Took his goal so, so well and also set up the opener. Never looked like giving it away.
Gabriel Martinelli (7/10):
Created the fourth out of nothing and was always testing the opposition on the dribble.
Subs & Manager
Jakub Kiwior (7/10):
Was solid, especially considering how infrequently he’s played this season.
Ben White (6/10):
Came on with the game won but didn’t offer as much as Tomiyasu going forward. Nearly scored a header.
Reiss Nelson (5/10):
Nice for him to get some football, though he didn’t make much of an impact.
Jorginho (7/10):
Introduced to give Rice extra time to recover before the Wolves game on Saturday, but still got on the scoresheet from the spot.
Eddie Nketiah (N/A):
Brought on for the closing stages.
Mikel Arteta (8/10):
You can’t have many complaints with that scoreline, but he might have taken off the likes of Odegaard and Saka a little earlier to save their legs.
