Arsenal are on the road to RC Lens as they continue their Champions League campaign on Tuesday night. So, here is everything you need to know about their Group B fixture.
The Gunners are looking to go 11 games unbeaten to start their season when Mikel Arteta’s team arrives in Pas-de-Calais. Arsenal have started the term in fine form with eight wins and two draws. They started their Champions League term with a 4-0 win over PSV Eindhoven.
Arsenal also boast a solid record against RC Lens having met the Ligue 1 club just four times. The Emirates Stadium natives won two and drew one of their past meetings with Les Sang et Or. So, here is everything you need to know for their next Stade Bollaert-Delelis encounter…
When is RC Lens vs Arsenal?
UEFA has scheduled RC Lens to meet Arsenal in matchweek two for the 2023/24 Champions League season on Tuesday, October 3. It has further set their fixture to kick off at 20:00 BST.
How to follow RC Lens vs Arsenal
Fans in the UK can watch Arsenal’s trip to Stade Bollaert-Delelis on TV via TNT Sports on TNT Sports 2. The broadcast begins at 19:00 BST with a 60-minute build-up programme.
Live stream of RC Lens vs Arsenal
TNT Sports 2 is available in high-definition on BT TV channel 431, Sky TV channel 871, Virgin Media channel 528. BT and Sky also deliver a standard-definition broadcast on 409 and 411. Each broadcaster, plus Discovery+, also runs a live stream through their respective websites.
UK-based fans can also follow Arsenal’s trip to RC Lens with live audio-only commentary via talkSPORT. It has exclusive radio commentary in the UK with coverage starting at 19:00 BST.
Arsenal team and injury news
Arteta has a number of injury concerns ahead of Arsenal confirming their team news for the Champions League Group B game at RC Lens on Tuesday night. Most concerning among the Gunners’ issues is the fitness of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus after they sustained knocks.
Saka and Jesus both developed knocks as Arsenal beat AFC Bournemouth 4-0 on Saturday in the Premier League. Arteta has announced that Saka’s involvement at RC Lens is a game-day decision after recovering well on Monday. Jesus also took part in training this Monday.
The Stade Bollaert-Delelis match will come too soon for Thomas Partey or Gabriel Martinelli to feature, though. Arsenal are still awaiting Martinelli’s return to training while he recovers from a hamstring injury. Partey is back in training after his blend of a groin and a thigh injury.
Arsenal’s injury problems eased slightly at Bournemouth with Declan Rice able to start after his back injury. Leandro Trossard also returned to the bench after his hamstring injury. Emile Smith Rowe, too, featured after he developed a slight issue at Brentford in the Carabao Cup.
Prediction: RC Lens (0) vs (3) Arsenal
Whether or not Saka and Jesus play at Stade Bollaert-Delelis, Arteta will expect Arsenal to beat RC Lens on Tuesday. Les Sang et Or are struggling for form so far this term and sit just 15th in Ligue 1. Franck Haise’s side have only won two and drawn one of their seven games.
RC Lens have even only scored seven goals and have conceded 12 in France’s top-flight so far this term. Arsenal have won five and drawn two of their seven Premier League games yet this term. The Gunners have also scored 15 goals to just six conceded in the top-flight so far.
PSV Eindhoven felt the force of Arsenal’s attacking might when the Eredivisie outfit bid to go toe-to-toe at Emirates Stadium. The Gunners stormed to a 4-0 win on their return to UEFA’s elite club competition. Haise would be wise to send RC Lens out in a more defensive system.
History does not favour a large scoreline in the rare meetings between Arsenal and RC Lens, though. The Gunners drew 1-1 at Stade Bollaert-Delelis before losing 1-0 at Wembley in the Champions League group stage in 1998. RC Lens scored late on during both fixtures, as well.
Arsenal did the double over Les Sang et Or when they last met, however. The Gunners beat RC Lens 1-0 at Highbury before claiming a 2-1 win on the road in the 1999/2000 UEFA Cup semi-finals. Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal team lost 4-1 on penalties to Galatasaray in the final.
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