Lens complete comeback to sink Arteta's Arsenal
FOOTBALL Lens complete comeback to sink Arteta's Arsenal

Lens complete comeback to sink Arteta's Arsenal

Faruq Ibrahim • 22:03 - 03.10.2023

Arsenal bottle a lead away to Lens to suffer their first defeat of the season

Arsenal suffered their first loss of the season, a 2-1 in their Champions League clash away to Lens.

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Mikel Arteta named a strong 11 for his team's trip to Estadio Bollaert-Delelis, but they met a resolute opposition in Franck Haise's Lens.

How it happened 

With a game against Manchester City scheduled for the weekend and the packed fixture list in the weeks prior, it would have been understandable if Arteta chose to line up a second-string side; however, the Spaniard put his best foot forward.

Arsenal started brilliantly as well, and they took the lead as early as the 14th minute when Bukayo Saka pounced on a loose ball and threaded Gabriel Jesus through on goal. The Brazilian finished brilliantly, and the Gunners forged ahead.

The goal created an expectation of business as usual for the Premier League team, and they look set to romp their hosts as they did PSV in the first matchday of the competition and Bournemouth over the weekend, but Haise’s side had other ideas.

About 10 minutes after Arsenal took the lead, Lens pulled level, capitalising on a David Raya mistake to punish their visitors.

Lens were not satisfied with just taking three points off Arsenal, and they refused to assume a behind-the-ball approach to the game, and it bore fruit as they took the lead in the 69th minute.

Polish midfielder Przemyslaw Frankowski delivered a deliciously weighted low cross to Elye Wayi, and the 20-year-old striker buried the ball into the bottom left corner.

Arsenal pressed for an equaliser, but the hosts, buoyed by the home crowd, left nothing on the table.

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