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.
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Denne historien er fra November 09, 2023-utgaven av Evening Standard.
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