WHEN Arsenal went down 2-1 to Lens at the start of October, on a nightmare trip which included a delayed flight and an injury to Bukayo Saka, they were in danger of making hard work of a kind-looking Champions League group.
But last night’s stroll past an abject Sevilla means Mikel Arteta’s side can qualify for the last-16 with a point against the French side in north London later this month, and will top the group with a game to spare if they win.
This was a fine way for Arsenal to finish a difficult week, which included being dumped out of the Carabao Cup by West Ham and their first League defeat of the season at Newcastle, which prompted Arteta’s furious rant about officiating and the club’s strange statement in support of the manager.
Arteta can now look ahead with a sunnier disposition, and he would dearly love to beat Lens and be able to effectively write off the final Champions League group game, at PSV Eindhoven, on December 12.
The fixture falls immediately after a visit to Aston Villa, imperious at home under Unai Emery, and before Arsenal’s festive schedule a tricky sequence against Brighton, Liverpool and West Ham - so the opportunity to rest key players in Holland would be welcome.
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Only £65k a month to live like Boy George
The Karma Chameleon singer listed his house for £17m in 2022, turning down offers. Now, he's looking for a tenant
Welcome to London, unicorn capital of Europe
We're flying far ahead of anywhere outside US for tech investment
Arteta's Arsenal evolution The next phase
Malik Ouzia and Simon Collings assess how the Spaniard will try to bring down Man City after he signs up for another three years with the title in his sights
Title fight catches fire after Gunners embrace dark side
Arsenal-City clashes take on a welcome edge of animosity
Whack the hippy gong-boho's back
It happened in Paris one grey February day. Sienna Miller was in an oversized, black leather jacket, lace-trimmed silk slip and clumpy great wedges.
There's a Starlink waiting in the sky... 7,000 in fact.Can Elon Musk stop them crashing to Earth?
As he was preparing his fields for seeding this year, Barry Sawchuk came across a giant slab of space debris. It had come from a spacecraft belonging to Elon Musk’s company, SpaceX.
'Politicians are only into power-mongering, corruption and cronyism'
We speak to alt revolutionary DEEPAK CHOPRA about biomarkers, his digital twin and his work to save humanity from disease
I've been waiting for a production of Godotthis brilliant all my life
Ben Whishaw and Lucian Msamati bring a potent, tragicomic chemistry to James Macdonald’s rich revival of Samuel Beckett’s challenging play.
Trust me, the Ritz is London's bestrestaurant
To whom we turn in moments of gloom and glory can be instructive, a filter of our truest friends. I've fallen out with the Ritz a couple of times, including once after a visit to the bar which didn’t warrant a review (“But you said it was lovely!” they said.
'Healing is a dirty word'
After four traumatic years, FKA twigs is back with a new album -and a thrilling metamorphosis
