Arsenal vs Lens preview: Prediction, team news & lineups

Arsenal are out for revenge when they host Ligue 1 side Lens on Matchday 5 of the 2023/24 Champions League group stages on Wednesday night.

The only blip in the Gunners’ continental campaign so far arrived in Lens at the start of October. Gabriel Jesus put the visitors into the lead before the French side overturned the deficit and claimed a memorable 2-1 victory.

However, Mikel Arteta’s side are now in a very strong position to qualify for the round of 16 as Group C winners having beaten Sevilla twice. Lens, meanwhile, are set to do battle with PSV for second spot.

These two sides sit four points behind Arsenal with two games remaining.

Arsenal vs Lens preview: Prediction, team news & lineups

Here’s our preview of the upcoming Group C clash at the Emirates.

How to watch Arsenal vs Lens on TV

When is kick-off? Wednesday 29 November

What time is kick-off? 20:00 (BST)

Where is it played? Emirates Stadium

TV channel/live stream? TNT Sports 2, discovery+, discovery+ app (UK) / Paramount+, ViX (US) / DAZN (Canada)

Referee? Artur Dias (POR)

Arsenal team news

Arteta welcomed Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Jesus back into his starting XI on Saturday, and both should get the nod again on Wednesday. Although, Kai Havertz will surely come back into the team after his heroics at the weekend.

There’s no word on when Emile Smith Rowe will be fit again, while Thomas Partey and Jurrien Timber won’t feature until the new year.

Fabio Vieira is available while he serves a domestic suspension.

Lens team news

The visitors will be without midfielder Morgan Guilavogui, who was sent off in Lens’ defeat at PSV on Matchday 4.

Impressive wing-back Deiver Machado is also set to miss out with a groin injury. Machado joins Jimmy Cabot on the sidelines.

Both Oscar Cortez and Wuilker Farinez are back in training following respective injury layoffs, but neither player is expected to start against the Gunners.

Arsenal vs Lens predicted lineups

Arsenal: Raya; White, Saliba, Gabriel, Tomiyasu; Rice, Odegaard, Havertz; Saka, Jesus, Martinelli.

Lens: Samba; Gradit, Danso, Medina; Aguilar, Mendy, Abdul Samed, Frankowski; Sotoca, Thomasson; Wahi.

Arsenal’s recent form

Brentford 0-1 Arsenal (25/11) – Premier League

Arsenal 3-1 Burnley (11/11) – Premier League

Arsenal 2-0 Sevilla (08/11) – Champions League

Newcastle 1-0 Arsenal (04/11) – Premier League

West Ham 3-1 Arsenal (01/11) – Carabao Cup

Lens’ recent form

Clermont Foot 0-3 Lens (25/11) – Ligue 1

Lens 1-0 Marseille (12/11) – Ligue 1

PSV 1-0 Lens (08/11) – Ligue 1

Lorient 0-0 Lens (04/11) – Ligue 1

Lens 4-0 Nantes (28/10) – Ligue 1

Arsenal vs Lens score prediction

Arsenal are continuing to flounder in the final third, and I don’t envisage a free-flowing display arriving against a stubborn Lens outfit on Wednesday.

After a difficult start to the season, Lens’ form has picked up in recent weeks and they’re now up to sixth in Ligue 1. Franck Haise is an excellent coach who got the better of Arteta in the reverse fixture, and his side will once again make life difficult for the control-infatuated hosts.

I expect the Gunners to control Wednesday’s bout and enjoy spells of sustained pressure, but Lens’ threat going the other way can’t be ignored. Nevertheless, I’m backing Arsenal’s pressure to tell on home soil and they should avenge their Matchday 2 defeat.

Prediction: Arsenal 2-1 Lens