Within touching distance of securing a ticket to the Champions League knockout stages, Arsenal is gearing up to host Lens in their penultimate Group B fixture on Wednesday evening.
The Gunners have been dominant, amassing nine points from four fixtures, thereby establishing an unassailable lead at the top of the standings. With just a single point needed, they are on the verge of assuring themselves a top-two finish.
Should Arsenal clinch victory in North London, Mikel Arteta’s men will not only secure a top-two finish but also wrap up first place with a game to spare.
In contrast, their Ligue 1 counterparts currently occupy the third spot in the group with five points to their name.
Taking a closer look at the head-to-head record and previous meetings between these two sides, the numbers tell an intriguing story.
Head-to-head Record:
- Previous Meetings: 5
- Arsenal Wins: 2
- Draws: 1
- Lens Wins: 2
Arsenal’s journey in this year’s Champions League might have been even smoother had they not stumbled at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in early October.
Gabriel Jesus’s opening goal against Lens was nullified by a fine Adrien Thomasson equalizer and a first-time Elye Wahi strike. This setback marked Arsenal’s first Champions League loss in over six years and only their second defeat in five previous encounters with Lens.
The historical context of this fixture adds another layer of intrigue. Meetings between these two sides have been sparse, with the October defeat acting as a reunion 23 years after they clashed in the semi-finals of the 1999-2000 UEFA Cup. Back then, under Arsene Wenger’s leadership, Arsenal emerged victorious on both occasions.
Dennis Bergkamp’s early goal secured a 1-0 first-leg win at Highbury, while Thierry Henry and Nwankwo Kanu propelled the Gunners to a 2-1 success across the English Channel.
However, Lens had their moments in the 1998-99 Champions League group stage, where the clubs met for the first time in a competitive setting.
A draw at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis, with Marc Overmars’s opener canceled out by an injury-time leveler from Tony Vairelles, was followed by a 1-0 loss at Wembley Stadium for Arsenal, with Ray Parlour being sent off.
Despite these encounters, Arsenal is still in search of a top-level European win against Lens. Notably, the November 1998 clash took place at Wembley Stadium rather than Arsenal’s Highbury base.
Lens, on the other hand, has yet to experience the intimidating atmosphere of the Emirates Stadium on a Champions League night.
As Arsenal and Lens prepare to face off once again, the rich history between these two clubs adds an extra layer of anticipation to what promises to be a crucial encounter in their respective Champions League campaigns.
Previous Meetings:
- Oct 03, 2023: Lens 2-1 Arsenal (Champions League Group Stage)
- Apr 20, 2000: Lens 1-2 Arsenal (UEFA Cup Semi-Finals)
- Apr 06, 2000: Arsenal 1-0 Lens (UEFA Cup Semi-Finals)
- Nov 25, 1998: Arsenal 0-1 Lens (Champions League Group Stage)
- Sep 16, 1998: Lens 1-1 Arsenal (Champions League Group Stage)
