Lens vs Arsenal live score, updates, lineups, and result as Saka suffers injury after hosts’ Champions League equaliser

By | October 3, 2023
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Adrien Thomasson got Lens back on level terms in an absorbing Champions League Group B clash with Arsenal.

The Premier League side absorbed early pressure at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis before Gabriel Jesus found a clinical 14th-minute finish on the end of Bukayo Saka’s pass.

Thomasson gave away possession to Saka on that attack but more than made amends with a fabulous finish on the half-volley from Elye Wahi’s lay-off before the half-hour.

There was more bad news for the Gunners shortly afterwards as Saka pulled up injured and hobbled off to be replaced by Fabio Vieira.

The Sporting News will be following the Lens vs. Arsenal match live, providing score updates, commentary, and highlights as they happen.

MORE: Where to watch Lens vs Arsenal live stream, TV channel, lineups, betting odds for Champions League match

Lens vs Arsenal live score

  1st Half Goalscorers
LEN 1 Thomasson ’25
ARS 1 Jesus ’14

Lineups:

Lens lineup (3-4-3, right to left): 30. Brice Samba (GK) — 24. Jonathan Gradit, 4. Kevin Danso, 14. Facundo Medina — 29. Przemyslaw Frankowski, 6. Salis Abdul Samed, 26. Nampalys Mendy, 3. Deiver Machado — 7. Florian Sotoca, 9. Elye Wahi, 28. Adrien Thomasson

Arsenal (formation, right to left): 22. David Raya (GK) — 18. Takehiro Tomiyasu, 2. William Saliba, 6. Gabriel, 35. Oleksandr Zinchenko — 8. Martin Odegaard, 41. Declan Rice, 29. Kai Havertz — 7. Bukayo Saka, 9. Gabriel Jesus, 19. Leandro Trossard

MORE: Lens vs Arsenal prediction, odds, betting tips and best bets for Champions League match

Lens vs Arsenal live updates, highlights, and commentary

64th minute: Saka is back out on the bench in a pair of tracksuit bottoms and a hoodie. Maybe a good sign for Arsenal. But that isn’t! Gabriel with a loose pass and Lens pounce, with Samed surging into the box to fire into the side netting.

61st minute: We’re past the hour and Lens continue to try and press high, with Arsenal seeking to take the sting out and control the game. Who will blink first?

54th minute: Machado wins a free-kick on the left. The delivery is flat and Havertz heads clear.

48th minute: Oohhh, Arsenal should be back in front. Jesus wins the ball back inside the Lens half and Havertz drives at a backpedalling defence before feeding Trossard. The Belgium winger shoots at Samba, who saves with his legs and is relieved to see Danso scramble the loose ball away. For a second it looked like a very unlucky own goal might be on the cards.

46th minute: We’re back. The Lens fans still making a hell of a din. And why not?

Halftime: All square at the interval after a very entertaining half. Jesus’ fine opening goal put Arsenal in charge but a nightmare five minutes then unfolded for the Premier League side, with Thomasson crashing in a superb equaliser and Saka heading down the tunnel with an injury. Catch you in a short while.

45th minute+1: Two minutes added time, which will begin with an Arsenal free-kick on the right. It’s worked short, now Odegaard delivers. Jesus is in space at the back post but snatches at the chance and blazes way over.

43rd minute: Another long period of Arsenal possession. They’ve settled things down pretty well since the Thomasson goal and Saka’s departure.

36th minute: Zinchenko slides a lovely pass down the left channel for Trossard. Medina makes the tackle and concedes the corner. Gabriel can’t connect and Zinchenko looks to get Arsenal moving again, although this lofted pass skips out for a goalkick.

32nd minute: Well, well. This is a dreadful sight for all Arsenal fans. Saka, who took a knock during the closing stages of Saturday’s 4-0 win over Bournemouth, is down on the turf. He gets some treatment but his race is run. Fabio Vieira enters the fray, which you would assume means Kai Havertz moving into the forward line.

25th minute: GOOOOAAAAALLLLLL!!!!! Adrien Thomasson!!!!!

My word, what a wonderful goal that is! Raya misjudges a chipped pace into midfield but there’s still plenty for Lens to do. Wahi is picked out quickly, controls smartly on his chest and tees up Thomasson for a delicious curling first-time finish. That’s certainly some way to atone for his part in Jesus’ opener!

19th minute: Arsenal have been purring since taking the lead. Havertz, Saka and Trossard all involved before the switch play to the right and continue moving Lens around. Zinchenko finds Havertz over the top and the Germany international shoots on the volley to draw a near-post save from Samba.

14th minute: GOOOOAAAAALLLLLL!!!!! Gabriel Jesus!!!

Thomasson gives away possession carelessly in his own half and Arsenal pounce brutally. Saka feeds Jesus and the Brazil forward takes a touch out of his feet before steering a low shot across Samba into the bottom left corner from the edge of the area.

12th minute: Arsenal finally settle into a nice period of possession, Rice knitting things together. Gabriel finds Trossard with a lofted ball down the left but the move breaks down.

10th minute: Frankowski’s latest delivery from the right it a bit too loopy and Raya gathers with ease.

8th minute: Thomasson glances header wide. A scrambling Raya had it covered but this is a good, enterprising start from the hosts.

4th minute: Wahi tries to run Tomiyasu, who grapples back at the Lens striker. It’s another corner. Arsenal don’t clear this one and former Southampton defender Danso swipes a shot just wide.

3rd minute: Gabriel forced to clear behind and Lens have an early corner from the right. Arsenal stand firm. 

1st minute: As the flare smoke clears, Arsenal get us underway.

4 mins to KO: Here come the teams. Lens stepping out in the Champions League for the first time in 21 years. They’ve had three relegations and promotions since then. It’s some story. A victory tonight might just top any recent chapter.

15 mins to KO: This year marks the 90th anniversary of Lens moving to the Stade Bollaert-Delelis. It’s a lovely spot for a game of football. Tonight’s atmosphere will be cranked up a few notches.

40 mins to KO: Lens boss Haise is calling upon his dependable backline to tackle a tall task tonight. Goalkeeper Samba and the back three of Gradit, Danso and Medina were mainstays in their Ligue 1 campaign last season and key reason for Lens being here on this stage at all. In 38 top-flight games, Haise’s men were breached just 29 times.

55 mins to KO: And this is the Lens team. Winger Adrien Thomasson comes in for their only change from the weekend.

1 hour to KO: The teams are in and Arsenal have gone strong. Saka starts alongside Trossard and Jesus in attack. Tomiyasu starting ahead of White at right-back is perhaps the only possible example of rest and rotation.

1 hr 20 mins to KO: Team news will be with us shortly. Arsenal have a mouthwatering Premier League encounter with champions Manchester City on Sunday, so it will be interesting to see whether Mikel Arteta rests any key men for this one. Bukayo Saka took a knock during the closing stages of Saturday’s 4-0 win over Bournemouth.

Bukayo Saka of Arsenal

Getty Images

1 hr 40 mins to KO: Arsenal swaggered back into the Champions League with a 4-0 win over PSV on matchday one. They did not have things all their own way when they last met Lens at this stage of the competitions, way back in 1998. The Gunners played their Champions League home games at Wembley that season and the Ligue 1 side left England’s national stadium with a famous 1-0 win before drawing 1-1 back at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis, which also hosts tonight’s game.

2 hours to KO: Hello and welcome to the Sporting News’ live coverage of Lens versus Arsenal in Champions League Group B. Stay tuned for all the buildup and team news, before updates from the game itself.

Lens vs Arsenal lineups, team news

Lens secured a creditable 1-1 draw away at Sevilla in their Champions League opener. Adrien Thomasson comes into the front three, while Massadio Haidara and David Costa are still sidelined through injury.

Lens lineup (3-4-3, right to left): Samba (GK) — Medina, Danso, Gradit — Frankowski, Abdul Samed, Mendy, Machado — Sotoca, Wahi, Thomasson

Thomas Partey and Gabriel Martinelli remain out of action for Arsenal but star winger Bukayo Saka remained in the starting XI.

The England international was passed fit to start in the weekend’s 4-0 Premier League win over Bournemouth, but he was forced off late on.

Arsenal lineup (4-3-3, right to left): Raya (GK) — Tomiyasu, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko — Odegaard, Rice, Havertz — Saka, Jesus, Trossard

Lens vs Arsenal live stream, TV channel

The Lens vs. Arsenal match from the Champions League kicks off at 9:00 p.m. local time from the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens, France.

Here’s how to watch the match across selected areas of the world’s major regions:

MORE: Watch this Champions League match in the United States on Paramount+

Region TV Streaming
USA — Paramount+, ViX
Canada —

DAZN
UK TNT Sports 2 discovery+
Australia — Stan Sport
India — Sony LIV, JioTV
Hong Kong — beIN Sports Connect
Malaysia — beIN Sports Connect
Singapore — beIN Sports Connect
New Zealand — beIN Sports Connect

UK: This match will be available for live broadcast and streaming via TNT Sports and discovery+.

USA: This game is available to stream on Paramount+, with ViX providing coverage in Spanish.

Canada: Every Champions League game this season will stream exclusively via DAZN in Canada.

Australia: Every UEFA Champions League Match. 4K UHD. Exclusive & Ad-free on Stan Sport. The Home of UEFA Champions League

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