In the second match of the Group B Champions League, Lens, rated 15th in French Ligue 1, shocked everyone by defeating Arsenal 2-1.

In the second encounter of the Champions League group stage, which is scheduled for early October 4 (Vietnam time), Arsenal is predicted to have an easy time against Lens following a 4-0 victory over PSV in the first match.

While Lens is only rated 15th in Ligue 1, their team is in excellent form under coach Mikel Arteta, having won 3 of their past 5 games and drawn 2. this season in class.

By the time Arsenal opened the scoring in the fourteenth minute, it appeared as though everything had gone as the supporters had predicted. The ball was stolen by attacker Bukayo Saka, who then gave it to Gabriel Jesus after the home team’s defense made a mistake. The Brazilian forward beat goalie Samba with a decisive shot into the left corner of the goal.

After a high pass from Oleksandr Zinchenko, striker Kai Havertz appeared to have increased the Arsenal lead a few minutes later with an incredibly fast volleykick in the penalty area, but the ball struck goalkeeper Samba.

But Lens, the home team, unexpectedly equalized at the 25th minute, 1-1. Midfielder Deiver Machado snatched the ball from goalkeeper David Raya’s poor kick and immediately transferred it to Florian Sotoca in the middle of the field.

The French attacker beat the Raya goalkeeper by deftly controlling the ball with his chest, pushing it for Adrien Thomasson to cross into the penalty area and cutting it with his right foot.

After Arsenal’s striker Saka was forced off the pitch due to injury at the end of the first half, things became worse. An important loss for the “Gunners” given that the English striker is playing below league level this year.

As the second half got underway, Arsenal continued to play on the home team’s terms. In the 49th minute, Trossard came close to scoring, but goalkeeper Samba stopped him.

Frankowski crossed from the right flank for Wahi to carefully finish to past Raya in the 69th minute, giving Lens a 2-1 lead after Samba joyfully used his foot to stop Tomiyasu’s close-range effort.

In an attempt to find an equalizer, coach Mikel Arteta was compelled to make replacements, and his two reserve players nearly succeeded in the ninetieth minute. Gradit got there in time to block Nketiah’s cross, which would have given Reiss Nelson the opportunity to score, saving Lens’ goal.

When PSV and Sevilla’s match ended in a 2-2 tie at the same time, Lens managed to hold onto their 2-1 lead and move up to the top of Group B of the Champions League.

Starting lineup: 

Lens: Samba, Gradit, Dance, Medina, Frankowski, Mendy, Abdul Samed, Machado, Sotoca, Wahi, Thomasson.

Arsenal : Raya, Tomiyasu, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Rice, Odegaard, Havertz, Saka, Jesus, Trossard.