crushed 6-0 by Arsenal, Lens no longer has any chance of playing in the round of 16

Eight weeks after their exploit in the first leg (2-1 at home), the Lensois experienced an ordeal against the Gunners in London on Wednesday evening.

They had started to dream, but all hope was gone. The RC Lens players have were heavily corrected by Arsenal on the Emirates pitch (6-0), Wednesday November 29, for the 5th day of the Champions League group stage. Never has a French club suffered such a large defeat in the history of the C1. Above all, Franck Haise’s men said goodbye to any hope of qualifying for the round of 16.

The feat of the first leg seemed a long way away. On Wednesday evening, the Sang et Or measured the gap that separates them from the highest European level. Dominated in all sectors, they were never able to match the Gunners, leaders of the Premier League, while they were obliged to win to continue to believe in qualification. Deprived of the ball, overwhelmed by the ease and relaxation of the Londoners, they suffered defensively under their repeated assaults.

A fatal half hour

Too tender, perhaps taken by the stakes, the place and the meeting, Franck Haise’s men paid for errors of accuracy and inattention, like the two aerial duels lost in the area on the opening of the score from Kai Havertz (13th), or the third goal from Bukayo Saka after a poorly pushed ball from Artesian goalkeeper Brice Samba (24th). In full collapse, they conceded four goals in less than 30 minutes.

They also had to face the maximum efficiency of the Gunners, who converted, in the first half, five of their six shots on target into goals. Even if, upon returning from the locker room, the nets shook less, the runs of Gabriel Martinelli and Declan Rice still caused trouble in the Lens rearguard, until the 6th and final goal from the penalty spot (86th) , signed Jorginho.

A final for the Europa League against Sevilla

The Lensois perhaps could have saved the honor with a goal. But they did not manage to materialize their little improvement at the end of the first act, marked by a post from Facundo Medina (40th) and a hand not whistled in the area (35th). They got their heads out of the water somewhat in the second half, helped by a sometimes lesser intensity from the Gunners, but without being dangerous (only one shot).

Despite the defeat and elimination, the Lensois do not say goodbye to the European adventure. They have one match left against Sevilla, at Bollaert in two weeks, to hope to secure third place in their group, synonymous with a transfer to the Europa League play-offs.