Arsenal dominated Lens during the midweek match with a commanding 5-0 lead at halftime, allowing them to ease off in the second half with minimal changes to their lineup, except for Havertz being substituted by Trossard in midfield. However, the players seemed eager to continue their attacking momentum, resulting in swift goals early in the second half.
Within the initial ten minutes, superb passing between Jesus and Saka led to a goal, followed by Zinchenko’s impressive move assisting Odegaard for a second goal. Despite the lead, Arsenal persisted in seeking further goals, leading to tense moments for Lens, who struggled defensively.
Though Arsenal attempted a penalty and faced VAR scrutiny, the first half concluded with a 2-0 lead, prompting thoughts of Arteta conserving energy by resting players. The game turned slightly scrappy, yet Arsenal remained deliberate in not overexerting themselves. Substitutions and a yellow card for Saliba occurred later in the game, adding to the intensity.
Wolves made efforts to mount a comeback but couldn’t breach Arsenal’s solid defense. Despite both teams creating opportunities, the match concluded with a nerve-wracking atmosphere, including Nketiah’s close attempt hitting the post with six minutes left, keeping the scoreline at 2-1.
Arteta opts to extend the match duration by swapping Saka for Jorginho and Kiwior for Odegaard as Arsenal strives to preserve their advantage. Wolves face several VAR checks, yet nothing dubious arises. We adopt a defensive setup with ten players to resist their attacks until the final whistle. A superb leap by Raya secures crucial 3 points, allowing us to move 4 points ahead in the standings.
