Arsenal’s performances may not have set pulses racing as much as last year’s but the midweek Champions League hammering of Lens proved Mikel Arteta’s attackers can still turn on the style in the right circumstances.

While the French side proved tactically naive, most of the Gunners’ domestic opponents have become wary of their qualities and deliberately set up in a low block to foil expansive football. Saturday’s trip to Brentford was the latest example and the boss expects more of the same when Wolves visit the Emirates on Saturday.

So what can he do to better prepare his players for such challenges?

“Giving players tools, ideas and understanding about what we have to do with the game we have to play,” was Arteta’s response in his pre-game press conference.

“It’s about the efficiency in the last part of the park that dictates the outcome of the game. The other night [against Lens], we were very efficient in that.”

Wolves come into the match in slightly erratic form having taken points from Manchester City, Aston Villa, Newcastle and Sp*rs since September only to lose to Fulham and Sheffield United in the last few weeks.

All the same, the boss expects a tough encounter: “They have a lot of quality. It’s not a coincidence, what they are doing. They perform really well, especially against the top sides.

“That speaks highly about the quality of the coaching staff – what Gary [O’Neill] is doing, the way they prepare and control opponents, especially when they play at home. We’re going to have to try to break them down tomorrow.”

The boss also tempered the expectations of Arsenal fans hoping for more free-flowing football after such an eye-catching win in midweek.

“It will be different, it won’t be the same, and we cannot expect the same,” he said.

“This team is going to be different to last season and hopefully very different to next season, and that’s part of the evolution by leaving some things in the past to [make way for] the new things, it’s a transition.

“We want to still be competitive and win matches and I think the team is competing really well.”

Following Granit Xhaka’s departure, injuries to Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard and the introduction of two summer signings – Declan Rice and Kai Havertz – it’s understandable that the midfield, in particular, is still getting to grips with its new look.

“I think time will help and the more minutes that they [Havertz, Rice & Odegaard] play together the chemistry will get better and better as well, but we have many options with different qualities.

“We played as well with two players, not as offensive [Jorginho and Rice] as the three that we are talking about right now, and it depends as well on the opponent, game state and what we are trying to do.”

Despite fitness issues with three midfielders, Arteta says his players are looking forward to a busy festive schedule that includes eight matches between now and the end of the year.

“That’s the beauty of it. We wanted to be in that position. We are playing in big games every three days and the squad is ready,” he reflected.

“The players are hungry to play every single game. They are disappointed when we have to rest them to manage minutes. That’s a really good sign.”

A win would temporarily give the Gunners a four-point lead at the top of the table before Liverpool and Manchester City play on Sunday.

“We can control what we can do,” said Arteta. “I’ve learnt that ‘ifs’ in this league are not a very positive thing to have in mind. We are very hungry to play in front of our crowd tomorrow and win the game. That’s what we are going to try to do.”

Mikel Arteta says Arsenal’s decision to award new contracts to the core of the first team squad will ensure club stability in the years to come.

When the Spaniard took over four years ago, the Gunners were regularly guilty of allowing star players to enter the final year of their contracts before agreeing new terms. It often led to poor deals being made and constant rumour-mongering in the press that did nothing for morale.

Over the course of the last six transfer windows, everything has been turned on its head. Thanks to diligent and decisive work by Sporting Director Edu, a young and hungry group of players are set to stay at the Emirates for the long term.

Only three players, all over 30, could leave for free in the summer; Cedric Soares, Jorginho and Mo Elneny. Meanwhile, the likes of William Saliba, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Magalhaes are contracted until 2027. Those tied down until 2026, including Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu, are now being reviewed.

“Yes, that’s what we’ve been doing in the past few years,” said Arteta when asked about the policy in his pre-Wolves press conference. 

“Apart from strengthening the squad as well, rewards and having stability in the squad. Those decisions are very important obviously.

On whether this level of organisation helps, he continued: “It does, because those players have deserved the new deals with the performances and the way they’ve behaved.

“It also gives us stability as well – they are at a brilliant age as well and there is still much more to come from them, and that was the initial plan.

“But it’s something that they have earned, it has made the squad much stronger and credit as well to Edu, the board and everybody that planned those sequences as well, to get them at the right time to compete evolving the squad in the right way.”

Clearly, the hope is that a squad that grows together will have success on the pitch in the coming years.

“For sure, without top players, without a top-quality squad in this league and the demands that we have, it’s impossible to do it and that’s what we’re trying to build and evolve, and be better and more precise with what we need to make a big impact with those decisions.”

Having scored a late winner against Brentford and the first of Arsenal’s six goals in midweek against Lens, it’s been a cracking week for Kai Havertz. 

While it’s taken Kai Havertz longer than hoped to settle at the Emirates, there have been signs in the last week that he’s finally turned a corner. 

A winner at Brentford quickly followed by the first of Arsenal’s six goals against Lens has made for a cracking week for the Germany international who, with the help of an earworm terrace chant, appears to be winning over the the Gunners’ faithful. 

Asked what the club have done to help the summer signing in recent weeks, manager Mikel Arteta said: 

“First of all, we support him like with any other player and then we give him the tools and the time to excel his qualities and I think that’s what he’s doing. Everything has started to come together. 

“A lot of things he was doing right he continues to do so and now in front of goal he’s been very efficient.”

Not the most demonstrative player, Havertz appears somewhat aloof compared to others when he steps over the white line. It’s likely he’s also been struggling for confidence while he comes to terms with new surroundings, teammates and playing style. 

It’s doubtful a couple of goals will turn him into a mouth-frothing Xhaka-like presence but it should provide a bit of a pep. 

“He’s been very positive and so influential in a good way to his teammates and the team,” continued Arteta. “But obviously [now] he’s confident and he’s really looking forward.

“When you feel loved, when you feel respected and when you feel admired, things are much easier. Your energy is better, your body language is better. I think that’s the way he’s felt in the last few days.”

On Saturday, Arteta made a big deal of frogmarching Havertz over to the away supporters to enjoy a moment in the spotlight. The manager clearly felt it was important for the attacker to soak up the plaudits even though he’s not the type to seek attention. 

“He’s very respectful and he’s not someone that wants to be there in the front line, or at least he doesn’t show it in that way,” said Arteta.

“But then if you ask him to go to war, he will be the first one down there, but he doesn’t want to take that credit.”

Especially for a young player, the amount of injury problems that Tyreece John-Jules has had to endure has been extremely frustrating.

This week, however, there was a hugely positive moment for the 22-year-old as he scored for his loan club Derby County against Port Vale after almost three months on the sidelines.

It was just the third appearance that the striker has made for Derby and a decision will have to be made on John-Jules’ short-term future soon, with his loan spell due to come to an end at the start of January.

When fit, though, it is clear that John-Jules has a lot of quality, with his finishing and technical ability being of a very high standard.

The former England U21 international has been on numerous loan spells, spending time with Lincoln City, Doncaster Rovers, Blackpool, Sheffield Wednesday and Ipswich Town prior to linking up with Derby.

John-Jules has also been on the bench for the Arsenal first-team but at this stage it appears that his chance to make a competitive senior appearance for the club may have gone.

At present the most important thing for John-Jules is to stay fit and get as much playing time as possible for Derby over the next month.

What will happen thereafter remains to be seen but it is hoped that his goal against Port Vale will be a significant step in the right direction.

—

Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird

According to The Athletic, Takehiro Tomiyasu is the latest Arsenal star in line for a new deal.

The 25-year-old is effectively under contract until 2026 thanks to a 12-month extension clause which could be activated at the end of next season. All the same, it looks like Mikel Arteta is keen to reward the Japan international for his impressive form.

Tomiyasu joined from Bologna in 2021 as a bit of an unknown quantity (completely unknown if you worked as a Sky Sports reporter) but he immediately won supporters over with his diligent performances. While injuries curtailed his involvement in the last two campaigns, when fit, there’s no doubt he’s a fine player.

As Mikel Arteta mentioned in September, the Japan international’s versatility makes him particularly useful.

“I always said that I’m really confident that the moment Tomi has consistency, he’s going to be a tremendous asset for us. He already is,” said the Spaniard. 

“He can play in any position in the backline, any formation in the backline, we don’t have another player like him.

“At defending, he’s probably one of the best that I’ve seen in many situations. His concepts, his principles, the way he applies that, the way he goes into duels…now he needs a run of games so that physically he’s at his best.”

Tomi has had that run in recent weeks, featuring in both full-backs as part of the meanest defence in the Premier League.

His performances haven’t gone unnoticed with rumours circulating recently that Bayern Munich have been keeping tabs on the player. A new deal at Arsenal should nip those in the bud.

As far as we’re aware, the Gunners are also trying to persuade Ben White to pen new terms at the Emirates.

Martin Odegaard says Arsenal’s 6-0 win over Lens was a demonstration of their attacking flare having struggled for fluidity in the final third in recent weeks.

Coming into the match, there was much talk about why the Gunners were struggling to match last season’s free-flowing football with manager Mikel Arteta pointing to a lack of early goals and the defensive low-block tactics of opponents.

Last night at the Emirates, Lens were anything but disciplined in their defending and after an early opener by Kai Havertz, the floodgates opened. For the first time since 2003, the Gunners scored five in the first half, and each by different scorers, before Jorginho added a penalty in the closing stages.

“That’s what we wanted to do,” said Odegaard of the performance.

“I think the last few games we’ve been really good defensively and today we wanted to show even more on the ball and to get some more goals as well.

“So we did that and we knew what we were playing for today and I think you saw the motivation and the hunger out there so that was good.”

Asked if the result sends a message to other teams around Europe, he added: “Every time we play we want to send a message of course.

“We want to win every time we play and we want to put on performances like this. It was a good night.”

“European football is a bit different, maybe a bit more transition, a bit more open. But yeah, we want to take that into the league.

“We want to keep playing well, keep scoring goals and offensive good football. We have to defend well and then play good when we have the ball. So that’s what we want to do.”

Arsenal’s win secured top spot in Group B and means Arteta’s side will be seeded heading into the knockout stages. It’s fair to say, nobody will want to draw us when the Last-16 draw is made on 18 December.

“We don’t know,” Jesus replied when asked how far this group can go in the competition.

“We just have to face every game like a final. I know sometimes it’s difficult. Sometimes we play amazing, like we did tonight, and then don’t get five or six goals. That’s football.

“One time it’s like this. You guys know probably more than me, that football is a strange game. Sometimes we play amazing but we don’t win the game or we draw.”

After scoring his fourth goal in four games in the competition, Jesus also launched a defence of his scoring record making clear that recent comments he made after Brazil’s defeat to Argentina were taken out of context. The striker had appeared to say goal scoring wasn’t his strong point; words that didn’t go down too well with the press in his home country.

“It’s hard to explain [why I score more regularly in the Champions League compared to the Premier League]. I said something after the game against Argentina and then people don’t understand sometimes. What I said people took out of context and then said, ‘Oh, Gabi, he says scoring is not his strong point’.

“I said this, but in another way. I have other qualities as well, but I can score guys. I know I’m missing to score in every game, it’s not easy, like at Brentford we played against five at the back, not a lot of chances, I had one with my head but it wasn’t easy.

“People don’t see that, they just check the score, see who scored and don’t see the game. I understand my game, I want to score every game, if possible a hat-trick, but that’s not the reality.

“Champions League this year, I’m scoring every game, Premier League, I’ve missed sometimes but like I said, I’m getting better every day to improve on that. If you say my name, people will think not just of goals but other things, I’m happy with this, but I want to score.”

He also made clear that he’s unconcerned by reports that Arsenal might be in the market for a new striker.

“This happens, I don’t know, maybe it can be like an agent [speaking] it’s business, you know, talking a lot of things. I’m not the most experienced guy, but I think I saw a lot of things in football.

“Sometimes it’s like this, it happened when I was at City with Aguero and me scoring. Aguero was obviously the first choice and me after. And then I was scoring a lot and people were linking me with everyone. So I don’t care about this.

“I know what my qualities are and I know what I can bring to the team. And then, like I said, I can score. I think I can score, no guys? And I can also help with other things, like opening spaces.

“The only people who can see that are those who watch the games. And let’s be honest, I don’t miss a lot of chances. It’s not about ‘he doesn’t know how to score’, sometimes I have to be in the box more and that’s one thing I’m working on.”

Well, that was fun.

Arsenal recorded their most comprehensive win of the season against RC Lens and in the process secured top spot in Champions League Group B with a game to spare.

The Gunners ended the evening with six different goalscorers – Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Jorginho – with five of them netting before the break; the first time the Gunners had done that since the first game of the Invincibles run back in 2003.

Here’s what the players, coaches and stattos had to say after the match.

Mikel Arteta on Gabriel celebrating a last-minute block with gusto…

When your team has that body language, living every game, every action as we do, good things are going to come. Like the crowd, they wanted more, they celebrate every single ball with us and when there is that connection, it’s really powerful.

Source: Post-game press conference (Hayters)

__

Martin Odegaard on captaining this Arsenal side…

I couldn’t be prouder, to be honest. It’s amazing to play for this club, and of course to be the captain as well, and represent the club. I love this team, I love the club and I love what we’re doing, so it’s amazing to be a part of that. I’m excited for what’s to come.

Source: Arsenal.com

__

Lens coach Frank Haise on his side’s performance…

We weren’t hoping for that, we were hoping for something else. We are at fault with our usual strong point, namely our central defence. I reviewed the goals, we have a lot to reproach ourselves for. Did we have the capacity and quality to rise to the level a second time? It was not the case. We cannot be at this height on a regular basis. We must accept it, we must recognize it.

Source: Canal Plus (via Foot Mercato)

__

Into the UCL knockouts!! Great week, let’s keep it rolling #COYG #YaGunnersYa pic.twitter.com/oIicbdFMbX

— Kai Havertz (@kaihavertz29) November 29, 2023

Gabriel Jesus on a great night for Arsenal…

It was a great performance, a top night. I think the fans enjoyed it. And then also we did the job, you know, job done now. We qualified first of a difficult group because, we had difficult opponents and tough games. And then to finish, not finish yet, we have a last game and we go there to win the game, of course, but to finish first, top of the group, is an amazing achievement.

Source: beIN SPORTS

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Mikel Arteta on Arsenal laying down a marker in the Champions League

It’s great that we are able to win in this way, but I think consistently we have shown at home not to concede any goals, and score a lot of goals, that’s a really positive factor, those players need to have those experiences, and believe that we can do it against big opponents, now let’s wait, we have to park it and in February we will know who we are facing and let’s see how we are in that moment.

Source: Post-game press conference (Hayters)

6-0 – Arsenal’s 6-0 win is the biggest ever victory by an English team against a French opponent in European competition. Bagel. pic.twitter.com/gfYjLlXyLb

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) November 29, 2023

Lens player Kevin Danso on his side’s defeat…

I don’t think we turned up as much as we could have. They’re one of the best teams in the world at the moment. And we saw that today, three quick goals in succession and that kind of breaks the camel’s back.

Source: beIN SPORTS

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William Saliba on getting revenge on Lens…

When I return home [to France], I want to win, so the first leg was a bit in my throat. We are qualified, we are first, we will try to finish well against PSV. When a team beats us, what we want is to beat them in return. We reviewed the videos of the first leg, what we did well and what we did poorly, and today it worked very well. At home it was easier for us.

Source: L’Equipe

No player has more goal involvements in the Champions League so far this season than Saka (7).

Gabriel Jesus is joint-second with six. https://t.co/oZh6vw8tIo

— Orbinho (@Orbinho) November 29, 2023

Bukayo Saka after being reminded that he said his mum had to put him to bed the night before his European debut five years ago…

Oh, my God. I did not say that. I knew you were going to bring that up as well. I knew you were going to bring that up. I knew it. I don’t know why I even said that, if I’m honest. Because that didn’t happen. They sort of told me to go to bed. But they didn’t put me to bed!

Source: TNT Sports

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Gabriel Jesus on his love of the Champions League…

I’ve said it many times, I watched it a lot at home, sometimes I missed school to watch because I love football. The Champions League is special like the Premier League, but obviously I already won the Premier League. I want to win that here obviously, but I want to win the Champions League as well. Not just a scoring, but win.

Source: TNT Sports

The last time that Arsenal were ahead by five goals at half time in a competitive first team game was 25 September 1963 v Staevnet (5-0) Inter Cities Fairs Cup

— Andy Kelly (@Gooner_AK) November 29, 2023

Mikel Arteta on Takehiro Tomiyasu’s double-assist cameo…

I think he was excellent, he has played a lot of minutes, and we have a really congested period. We are very short at the back at the moment and we had to use the score to make some changes and give some rest and minutes to other players.

Source: Post-game press conference (Hayters)

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Martin Odegaard on a fine team performance…

It was a bit mad to be honest, but we did so well. The intensity, the rhythm we played in, and what we did in the boxes was brilliant. We wanted to keep doing the same in the second half, but the game was a bit different, and it was a solid performance. We knew what we were playing for today, so we managed to do that and of course, we’re very happy now.

Source: Arsenal.com

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Bukayo Saka on whether he was happy to be substituted on 66 minutes…

Not really! I wanted to play 90 minutes if I’m going to be honest. I understand his decision and now I’m focused on Wolves and doing my best in that game as well.

Source: TNT Sports (via Evening Standard)

This is the second time the #Arsenal have had 6 different goalscorers in a European match, after a 7-0 win against Standard Liege in the 1993-94 Cup Winners' Cup. We went on to win the trophy that season

— Tom Ede (@TomEde1) November 29, 2023

Mikel Arteta spoke to TNT Sport after Arsenal’s 6-0 win over Lens at the Emirates this evening. Here’s what he had to say.

A good way to get the job done …

Absolutely. Today was the day to get it done. We had the chance to qualify, to be top of the group and I think we’ve done it in a beautiful way.

On the first half being impressive …

Well, it has to be. You know when you score five goals in the first half in the Champions League, it’s a really good sign. The boys deserve the credit. We were really good.

Keeping a clean sheet in the second half being important …

Yes, because you can become really sloppy and there were parts in the second half that you start to see different behaviours, but I think the team is really focused. I think we haven’t conceded a goal in the Champions League at home and scored 12, so it’s good stats.

Scoring early being advantageous …

Yes, because obviously they have to come out and they are a team that wants to be really aggressive in their high press and we used the space. It’s really good, we’re really efficient, we scored some wonderful goals.

Topping the group being important ahead of PSV …

It’s great because the schedule we have at the moment is crazy. We’re already thinking about Wolves now in 72 hours. But it was a big night. Thank you as well to our people, they were incredible.

Saka’s performance on the 5th anniversary of his debut …

Yeah, he was brilliant again. It’s the consistency that he’s shown, you know, what he’s achieved today, what he’s doing. It’s extremely difficult, it’s the way he prepares himself and obviously his quality, and the good teammates that he’s got around him.

Time to enjoy this win?

Yes, but we have to demand to each other more and we know that on Saturday Wolves are coming, they are a really good side and we’re going to have to be really well prepared.

Arsenal ensured top spot in Champions League Group B with a resounding 6-0 win over Lens at the Emirates this evening.

The goals came from Gabriel Jesus, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka and Jorginho, with the visitors offering very little attacking threat.

All in all, a very impressive night for Mikel Arteta’s men.

Here’s how the players rated this evening.

Read the Arsenal 6-0 Lens match report and see the goal here 

Arsenal 6-0 Lens – Player Ratings

The ratings are hidden by default until you vote, but if you just want to view the ratings and the comments, flick the switch at the top above David Raya. Also, please give the ratings a few seconds to load.

Arsenal: Raya, Tomiyasu, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Rice, Havertz, Odegaard, Saka, Martinelli, Jesus

Subs: Ramsdale, Hein, White, Cedric, Kiwior, Jorginho, Elneny, Nelson, Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri, Trossard, Nketiah

Arsenal secured top spot and qualification into the Champions League knockout rounds after beating Lens 6-0 at Emirates Stadium, thanks to goals from Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Martin Odegaard and Jorginho.

Mikel Arteta made one change to the side that beat Brentford on Saturday with late goalscorer Kavertz coming in to replace Leandro Trossard.

With Lens defending deep, it took Arsenal ten minutes to fashion their first opportunity when Havertz headed inches wide after Takehiro Tomiyasu did well to find him from the byline.

But the German would break the deadlock minutes later after good work from Jesus, who won a crucial header in the penalty box, allowing Havertz to ghost in ahead of goalkeeper Brice Samba and tap home. 1-0.

Arsenal doubled their lead in an instant through Jesus, who showed great composure to sit Kevin Danso down in a crowded area and finish low into the corner, continuing his excellent Champions League form under Mikel Arteta. 2-0.

Before the fans at Emirates Stadium could even finish celebrating, Saka made it three after Samba could only parry a curled effort from Martinelli straight onto his chest which trickled into an empty net – completing an 11-minute rout. 3-0.

With Lens clearly shellshocked, there was an attempt to slow the game down but they found the Gunners in electric form and after being denied minutes earlier, Martinelli would soon join the fun after beating the offside trap, cutting inside and curling a brilliant effort into the corner. 4-0.

According to Opta, Arsenal’s 4-0 lead within 27 minutes was the joint-fastest an English side has ever scored four in a Champions League game, equalling Manchester United v Brondby IF in November 1998 (who went on win the competition that season).

Despite conceding four, Lens still had moments and Elye Wahi looked likely up front before Facundo Medina struck the post from range, only for Odegaard to make it five(!) in first half injury time with a perfectly struck volley from close range after Tomiyasu did well to overlap. 5-0.

Understandably, the second period was played at a slower tempo with a hectic schedule in mind and Arteta made two half time changes with Tomiyasu and Oleksandr Zinchenko being replaced by Ben White and Jakub Kiwior.

There was even time for Havertz to bring out the party tricks, who Cruyff-turned away from substitute Abdukodir Khusanov by the corner flag and raced into the area, with his cutback finding Odegaard who saw his low shot saved by Samba.

After Ben White went close from a corner, Arsenal were awarded a penalty when Khusanov – following VAR review – was penalised for handball with Jorginho stepping up and cooly slotting home to make it six different scorers on the night. 6-0.

Arteta’s men weren’t able to match their highest scoring Champions League win (7-0 vs Slavia Prague, 2008) but things couldn’t have gone much better with the attack firing, players being rested and others getting important minutes.

Can we play the Champions League theme before every game? Get it done, Arsenal.

Arsenal take on Lens in the Champions League, looking for a win which would ensure we top Group B with a game to go.

Here are the official line-ups.

Arsenal: Raya, Tomiyasu, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Rice, Odegaard, Havertz, Saka, Martinelli, Jesus

Subs: Ramsdale, Hein, White, Nketiah, Kiwior, Cedric, Trossard, Jorginho, Nelson, Elneny, Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri

Lens: Samba, Medina, Danso, Gradit, Frankowski, Mendy, Samed, Haidara, Fulgini, Sotoca, Wahi

Subs: Leca, Pandor, Aguilar, Machado, Da Costa, Diouf, Maouassa, Said, El Aynaoui, Khusanov, Thomasson

Follow the game on the Arseblog live blog

Welcome to a brand new episode of the Arsenal Women Arsecast, the number one podcast about Arsenal Women.

For the November mailbag edition, Tim is joined by Sebastian from the Potshot Podcast to field your questions on the defence and how the future of the backline is shaping up, Katie McCabe at right-back, whether there is room for additions in the January transfer window, the midfield and the competition between Pelova, Cooney-Cross, Little and Walti, as well as how to get Alessia Russo into more scoring positions and how soon can Emirates Stadium become the full-time home ground for the women’s team?

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In the second half of his pre-Lens press conference, Mikel Arteta answered further questions about the fluidity of his attack and how Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka, in particular, are dealing with defensive stubbornness.

The manager also touched on what is needed to win the Champions League and whether European success is easier to achieve than topping the Premier League.

On how Martin Odegaard is affected by opponents congesting the middle of the pitch this season…

Last year it happened again, especially in the second phase of the season. Again, for the same reason, we started not to score that early, but teams are going to suffer a lot if they want to defend there. We are getting better, we have more and more resources and we’re getting more and more ways to attack those situations. And we’ll master it, that’s for sure.

On games being tougher for Odegaard when Arsenal don’t score early…

Yes, it will affect the game in a different way. He had a very clear role what to do and he did it really well and he opened up so many spaces and actions to attack in different ways for us. I think he’s a player who is so intelligent that he will find a way at the end to win the game for us.

On Arsenal not having won the Champions League and whether it hurts the club…

Arsene used to define it in a great way; don’t take it for granted because in this [Premier] League it’s extremely difficult and he was so right. The moment that you missed it [qualifying] then you realised how important it is to do it. Now we see in this league, three or four teams not being in the Champions League where they should be. It sounds like a catastrophe but that’s the reality of the level of this league. To be in that competition from that league, you have to take credit as well because it’s very complicated. 

On whether it’s only an established core of teams who can realistically win the Champions League…

Except for Real Madrid, normally the winners for the rest, I think it is a dream, it’s a possible dream because these are football games and teams are really good and games are decided in detail in a lot of moments. We certainly need to get the experience to compete at that level, to be closer to that situation. 

On Sp*rs being an example of it not being impossible to get close to winning the competition…

Yeah, a lot of things have to go your way, you have to obviously perform at an incredible level to have the opportunity to do that, and we are going to try, that’s for sure. 

On Bukayo Saka improving his scoring stats season-on-season…

First of all, having great teammates that make you better, that’s the first thing. And then credit to him, the way he takes his profession and the way he trains every single day, the question he demands all the time to be better, to define games, to win games, to score more goals. He’s got a ruthless mentality now, to be the best that he can be every single day and to really be there on the pitch to affect games and win games for the team. 

On Saka’s humility…

That’s what makes him special. It’s impossible not to love Bukayo. You see that within two minutes you get to know him and you get shocked at what a special character and person he is. But at the same time, he’s so humble but he’s got that presence that he sets the line there and that’s enough. And that’s big quality I think. 

On whether it’s harder to win the Premier League or Champions League…

I don’t know, to win the Premier League, it’s a huge marathon or triathlon, I don’t know how it’s called in England, but the Champions League is something special, it’s moments that have to go your way, and as well that belief that the team can win it and create a special atmosphere in these moments and have the luck in the right moments, it’s a lot of things that you need to go your way. But now I think to win the Premier League is so tough. I haven’t replied to your question! For us as a club, I think it’s the Champions League because we haven’t won it. That’s it. 

On the importance of having two wingers in tandem and things not clicking without Gabriel Martinelli and Saka on the pitch together…

Well, it was only not them, there were a few [other] players [missing] as well, and the chemistry of the team is not the same, especially against certain formations, that we need special things in those areas. But we have other players as well. Leo [Trossard] has played on the left, Reiss [Nelson] has played there, Fabio [Vieira] when he’s come in has different qualities. It’s not the same, it is different. The team adapts to that. And some days the team needs something else in other positions to adjust and those different qualities of the team. But for sure, they [Saka & Martinelli] are two huge players for us. 

Leandro Trossard might be adept with both feet but when it was put to Mikel Arteta that the Belgian rivals his former teammate Santi Cazorla for ambidexterity, the Spaniard couldn’t help but smile.

“I have to see Leo take a corner with his left foot. When he does that then maybe! He’s so good but Santi was something special,” he replied.

Rather than take offence, we suspect Leo will enjoy being mentioned in the same breath as his predecessor.

Now, 38, Cazorla has returned to Spain after three years in Qatar to continue his playing career at boyhood club Real Oviedo in the second tier. It’s scarcely believable given the injuries that nearly forced him to retire while still on the books at Arsenal.

On the subject of being two-footed, it’s clearly something Trossard clearly takes pride in, although at this point in his career (he’s 28 until he turns 29 next week), it also comes as second nature.

“I’ve been practising all my life on it from the age of seven or eight when I started playing football,” he said in today’s pre-Lens press conference.

“My granddad always told me you have to practice both because it will help you a lot and that’s what I did and that’s why I’m so comfortable on both at the moment.

He added: “It’s so hard to defend when you’re both footed. I realised maybe around the age of 16 or 17 when I got really into the first team and realised that I have to be even better at it to up my game. It helped me so much already with the goals that I’ve scored here and it makes me unpredictable.”

In 37 games for the Gunners, Trossard has already produced 19 goal involvements (seven goals and 12 assists) and proved a very useful outlet for Arteta across the frontline and even in midfield.

Asked whether his £27 million represents a bargain, the manager said: “I don’t know about the financial side, I’m not an economist at the club!

“I think he’s a tremendous player, that has great talent and especially great intelligence to play the way we want to play, so he’s a really good fit for us.

“[His versatality] that was one of the main reasons why we signed him; he’s got experience in the league, he’s done what he’s done in the league already, and we had a lot of issues in January in our frontline, and he could cover those necessities in a really efficient way, and he’s proven that he can do all that.”

For his part, Trossard sounds like he’s enjoying life at Arsenal even if at times, he’s had to feed off scraps as a substitute.

“I think when you come to a new club, you have to prove yourself and I think what helped me was that I was important straight away with some assists and a goal and I think that helps you to integrate into a group.

“Obviously the team is so good, we have such good characters here and they all try to help you and settle you in, so that helped the most to be honest.

He added: “I have to be switched on every day, to be honest, but that keeps me on my toes I suppose. That’s the way it goes for me at the moment, I need to bear in mind that I can play in multiple positions and I need to be ready in each one of them. I think I am at the moment and I try to compete and play in the best possible way.”

Tomorrow’s match against Lens falls on the fifth anniversary of Bukayo Saka’s senior debut for Arsenal. Only 17 at the time, he was a second half substitute for Aaron Ramsey on a bitterly cold evening in Kyiv as the Gunners ran out 3-0 winners over Europa League opponents Vorskla Poltava.

While there was no debut goal, the youngster showed enough in his 22-minute cameo – including a neat stepover to make space for a shot that needed to be saved – to suggest he might just make it at Arsenal.

Boy has he done that.

Just three games shy of his 200th appearance for Arsenal, he already has 49 assists and 44 goals to his name. He’s been the club’s Player of the Season twice, the PFA Young Player of the Year and England’s Player of the Year two years running.

At 22, he’s achieved so much. And, according to manager Mikel Arteta, there’s much more to come.

“What he’s done in those five years is remarkable at his age, when you look at his stats, and how consistent he’s been, it’s very rare to see that at his age, especially in those positions at top clubs. It’s a big compliment for him,” said the Spaniard on Tuesday.

“Getting to the top is one thing, but maintaining it is something else,” he added.

“He’s done it for five years, and as well you can see that the way he’s improving, he’s really steady, but really fast as well.

“He’s got the right mentality because he’s got the right family, the right people around him, and he’s still so humble. He has the right advice around him and that’s what makes him special, because he wants more and there is much more to come.”

While the rest of Arsenal’s attacking players have seen a drop off in their key metrics this season, Saka continues to deliver the goods. He did so again on Saturday at Brentford, finding just enough space in the dying moments to produce a cross for Kai Havertz’s winner.

He later reflected that he’s finding this season tough going with most opponents choosing to mark him with two players. It doesn’t help that he tends to get kicked several times a game.

“He’s targeted because he’s one of our most dangerous players and the teams know that, and they try to stop our strengths, that’s for sure,” said Arteta ahead the Champions League clash with Lens; the physical French side that managed force Saka off with an injury in the reverse fixture in October.

“What he’s done in those five years [since his debut] is remarkable at his age, when you look at his stats, and how consistent he’s been, it’s very rare to see that at his age, especially in those positions at top clubs. It’s a big compliment for him.”

Asked whether he considers his winger “world-class” – a pretty dumb question when the player was just voted the 24th best in the world at the Ballon d’Or awards – Arteta continued: “Well, he played at the World Cup, he plays in the national team, so I don’t know what world class means, but he’s a top, top player, that’s for sure.

“He’s a huge part of both teams, that’s for sure, and you have to see the impact he has in games, he’s crucial for us, and we know what we want him to be, and Bukayo needs to be a main part of that.”

Are Arsenal less exciting to watch this season? The eye test suggests so and the stats mostly back up the theory. 

But why is that? Is Mikel Arteta setting up his side with a more defensive mindset? Is attacking fluidity, or lack thereof, down to personnel issues? Or is it simply because opponents are more wary of the Gunners’ threat compared to last season? 

In truth, it’s a combination of all of the above and more. 

Ahead of tomorrow night’s clash with Lens, the manager was asked how Arsenal can improve when it comes to breaking down sides playing with a low block.

“By practising, like everything,” he said. “Obviously, when there is less space and more density, it’s more difficult to score a goal. 

“I think we attacked much better [at Brentford] than we have done in other moments when a team defended with that block. 

“There are certain things that we are insisting a lot to do, to create more issues for opponents. The more we practice, the better we will be. 

“Sometimes we don’t want to provoke that but we will because the team wants to do it. It’s about finding the right key to unlock the doors in relation to what the team wants to do.”

The manager also believes that his side’s lack of early goals this season isn’t helping with the perception that they are not as interesting to watch. 

“Game state is a big thing. Last year we scored a lot of goals in the first minutes of the games, and then the game becomes different,” he said. 

“The opponent becomes more open, the opponent has to do many other things and we haven’t been able to do that that often. So when you compare the time we’ve had in winning moments last year to this year, it’s different. 

“But the league is different, expectations are different and the players are different. The important thing is we keep winning.”

Given Arsenal sit top of the Premier League table and can seal first place in Champions League Group B with a win on Wednesday, it’s fair to say he has a point. 

That the Gunners have developed a reputation for being strong at the back, certainly isn’t to be sniffed at, although the boss isn’t focusing on that per se. 

“The satisfaction is where we are,” he clarified when asked about being defensively solid.

“We have to find a way to be where we want to be, and this is exactly where we want to be. 

“It’s not going to be as fluent, it’s not going to be as hectic, because there is no space to run. When you are sitting in traffic, you want to go 100mph, but I have three busses and 55 taxis around me, so it’s tricky. 

“We need to get where we want to get to and in order to do that we have to be really solid and I think we’ve been really solid so far.”

He added: “I think game state is a big definer of that, and you see that time and time again. In the league and in Europe, because in the Champions League what happened? Against PSV we were really exciting, because we scored early. Against Sevilla it was the same. That’s a big thing.”

Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Fabio Vieira has undergone an operation on his groin and won’t be available until the middle of January at the earliest.

Eagle-eyed reporters noticed that the Portuguese midfielder was absent from today’s pre-Lens training session and when pressed on the matter in his press conference the boss had this to say:

“We’ve got a problem with him. He’s been having some discomfort. We sent him to see a specialist and the advice was to have an operation in his groin. He did that yesterday. We don’t expect him back this side of the winter break.”

Arteta on Fabio Vieira:

"We've got a problem with him. He's been having some discomfort. He wasn't improving and we sent him to a specialist, the advice was to have an operation which we did yesterday. We expect him to be out for weeks now."

— Charles Watts (@charles_watts) November 28, 2023

Having made a decent start to the season, including making three assists, Vieira hasn’t had much luck recently.

He was a late substitute in the 3-1 win over Burnley earlier in the month but picked up a straight red card for a clumsy and ugly challenge on Josh Brownhill.

Keen to keep his player fit, Arteta then asked Vieira to play for the under-21s against Reading. He started by scoring a penalty but then missed a second spot-kick as the Gunners went down 5-2 on the road. He’s not been seen since.

Fingers crossed the procedure goes without any complications. At least he doesn’t have to worry about being suspended for upcoming games with Wolves and Luton.

Arteta tells me that Smith Rowe and Partey could feature before the January break… but emphasis on the word could.

— James Benge (@jamesbenge) November 28, 2023

In other team news, Arteta has confirmed that Ben White will be available tomorrow night and he’s hinted that Thomas Partey and Emile Smith Rowe could return to fitness before Arsenal’s winter break in early January.

Partey, who has only played 15 minutes of Premier League football since August, is struggling with a thigh problem while Smith Rowe, whose one and only league start came in October’s 5-0 win over Sheffield United, injured his knee in training.

Having been open to a deal for Partey in the summer, speculation is rife that the Gunners could put the player on the market when the transfer window opens in January. Getting a deal done could be complicated, especially with the player expected to feature for his country in the African Cup of Nations.

Jorginho believes Arsenal are on the right path under Mikel Arteta and credits a collective work ethic for a change in the club’s fortunes.

The Italy international was recruited last January to bring experience and know-how to the Gunners midfield and he’s proved a canny signing in light of Thomas Partey’s injury struggles.

While his own future is in doubt – he’s 10 months through an initial 18-month contract and Arteta is yet to decide whether to activate a year-long extension – Jorgi believes Arsenal have a bright future ahead.

“We are in a good position because of the way we work, the way we constantly want to improve, the way we push to win matches,” he told Mexico’s version of Paramount Plus (via Gazzetta dello Sport).

“We are doing well and I think we are going in the right direction.”

“Mikel is a great coach,” he added. “He wants the best from all his players and pushes everyone to the limit.

“I think he will win a lot in his career, for what he is as a coach on the pitch and as a person off it.”

Elsewhere, Leandro Trossard says Arsenal’s late win over Brentford is another example of the team always believing they can find a goal.

As the clock ticked towards the 90th minute at the Community Stadium, it looked like the Gunners might have to settle for a point against a stubborn opponent. That was before Bukayo Saka found a couple of yards of space to curl a delicious ball onto the head of substitute Kai Havertz.

“We have belief,” the Belgian told Arsenal.com.

“We know that a goal can be scored in the 90th minute of a game. With the extra time now added on in every game, we play longer and you need to be focusing on those minutes.

“We’ve scored a lot of goals already this season in the last 10-15 minutes, so there is where you can decide games.”

When Arsenal drew 0-0 with West Ham in February, I wrote a piece on how a big part of the Gunners game plan on that day was to pressure West Ham’s left centre-half, Hawa Cissoko, and their left wing-back, Kirsty Smith, both of whom are right footed. Two players playing on their unnatural side makes a back five ripe to be pressed. I asked Jonas Eidevall about whether Arsenal repeated that game plan in this game.

“If it looked obvious to you it was probably part of the plan.” I also asked him about whether there was a plan to expose West Ham in the space between their wing-backs and wide centre-halves. “Any team playing with a back three gets into that decision about how comfortable the central defender feels to come out and defend in that (wide) area.” Incidentally, I interviewed former Gunner Lisa Evans, playing at right wing-back for the Hammers today, about something very similar during her time at the club.

“I really like playing against a back five because I think there are pockets of space in front of them and I think there’s often space between the centre-back and the wing-back and there is uncertainty about who is picking up.” Eidevall selected Frida Maanum, who veered very much to the right in this game and Beth Mead and they scored all three goals. Let’s look at some examples of how Arsenal exploited this specific weakness in West Ham.

West Ham clear the first Arsenal corner of the game and it falls to Cooney-Cross, I can’t honestly tell you I think this pass is a direct result of the gameplan to expose West Ham on that side, it’s more likely that this is just the best pass available and Cooney-Cross’ body shape is well positioned to play this ball to Maanum. What you can see is a little disorganisation on that side of West Ham’s backline.

Maanum collects the pass and equally open to debate is how intentional the Norwegian’s chip is that ends up in the top corner. How designed this specific play is is only a question Eidevall and his analysts can answer but Arsenal definitely had a plan to expose West Ham in these exact areas, as we will see. West Ham have conceded five headed goals to crosses this season so getting the ball into the area must have figured in the pre-match conversation at least.

Oh my word…

What a goal from @FMaanum! #BarclaysWSL @ArsenalWFC pic.twitter.com/HltNSVYbOI

— Barclays Women’s Super League (@BarclaysWSL) November 26, 2023

Whether or not the first goal was a direct result of the game plan or a bit of a coincidence is open to conjecture but one thing Arsenal clearly wanted was to use Cooney-Cross’ ability to use big switches of play to that right wing. Here she collects the ball from Wubben-Moy.

This is what she does with it. Cooney-Cross plays two passes in the first five minutes and they are both aimed at the right flank. This one doesn’t reach Mead but the idea is clear.

Look at the pressure Arsenal exert on West Ham’s left side here as the Irons win the ball back on the edge of their area.

Kirsty Smith is right footed playing on the left, so she doesn’t want to clear the ball with her left. Instead, she tucks it back to Cissoko and given she is right footed, it is not a comfortable pass and she swings at the clearance. Arsenal wanted to press Smith and Cissoko onto their weaker side.

Cissoko slices the ball as far as Smith and she heads it away but can’t get any direction on the ball because it’s not a pass she is receiving but a miscued clearance.

McCabe simply hooks Smith’s header back into the same area and Cissoko meets it.

McCabe once again meets Cissoko’s clearance and just helps it back into the same area. Arsenal had a plan to keep the ball in the areas between West Ham’s wing-backs and wide centre-halves. Mead controls McCabe’s header on this occasion.

Mead finds Maanum and it’s not a mistake that Frida is positioned quite wide. A big part of her selection was about pressing in this right half space next to Mead. She plays a dangerous cross into the area.

And Russo only just fails to connect with the cross.

Arsenal’s next shot comes from pressing West Ham’s left side. Smith takes a throw and receives the ball straight back. Because she is right-footed, her instinct is to turn inwards onto her right and back towards her own goal. Maanum is straight on the case.

She muscles Smith off the ball and strides forwards. This was a big part of Maanum’s job on the day, to press the left side of West Ham’s defence.

Maanum finds Foord on the left-hand side and her shot is palmed away by Walsh. All of Arsenal’s early chance creation is a result of focusing on West Ham’s left side.

Once again, Wubben-Moy finds Cooney-Cross here and the Australian’s first thought is to spin and survey the options to her right.

Cooney-Cross spins away from the pressure and immediately sends the ball to the right to Beth Mead. This was a big part of why she kept her place ahead of Walti and Little, because her ability to spray passes from left to right suited Arsenal’s game plan.

Now Mead is one-on-one with Cissoko with Smith out of the picture and, well, we know how this ends.

Beth Mead is back! #BarclaysWSL @ArsenalWFC pic.twitter.com/Z4LO7LFjBZ

— Barclays Women’s Super League (@BarclaysWSL) November 26, 2023

From this throw-in, we see Maanum again drifting over to the right.

McCabe plays a lovely reverse ball into that corridor of uncertainty between wing-back and wide centre-back again.

Maanum floats another cross to the back post- West Ham have conceded five headers from crosses so far this season- but Megan Walsh just gets a fingertip on it before it can reach Caitlin Foord.

West Ham had eleven right footers in their team and sometimes it made them easier for Arsenal to press and not just on the left of West Ham’s defence. Shimizu receives a pass from Walsh here from a goal kick.

She finds Stringer but Cooney-Cross and Maanum are in close attendance and because Stringer is right footed, she turns back towards her own goal.

She does eventually shimmy away and find Harries.

If Harries were more confident on her left foot, she would swing the ball out to Smith at left-back, instead she uses the outside of her right foot to play a central pass. Smith’s body position is also pointed inwards which maybe puts Harries off playing that ball.

Hayashi collects the pass. Again, Smith and Asseyi are in good positions on the left.

Hayashi does not naturally swing the pass to the left and instead, she dawdles on the ball and Pelova wins the tackle and Arsenal are away. Maanum plays a through ball to Russo here and it takes a last-ditch tackle from Tysiak to prevent her getting an unobstructed shot on goal.

Hayashi picks up the loose ball and this time has enough time and space to feel comfortable switching the ball to Smith on the left.

Smith receives the pass and, instead of playing on with her left foot, she takes a second to shift the ball back onto her right and that gives McCabe time to close her down.

The time it takes Smith to shift the ball back onto her right and the pressure from McCabe means Smith rushes the clearance and it just falls straight to Ilestedt.

Ilestedt plays the ball straight to Pelova and Arsenal are away again. Look at where Frida Maanum is again, tucked away on that right hand side.

Catley wins this loose ball in midfield and it falls for Pelova.

Pelova’s first thought is to drop the ball into that right side again.

But on this occasion, Walsh is out to meet the pass intended for Maanum. But you can see the gap between Cissoko and Smith here.

Cissoko receives a pass from Megan Walsh here and, again, we see the slightly awkward way she accepts the pass as a right footer, her body turned inwards and back towards her own goal.

Cissoko hesitates because the passing lane she has is not ideal for her right foot. If she were left footed, she would have received the ball from Walsh with an open body and been able to shovel it to the left far more quickly.

Cissoko isn’t satisfied with the pass available to her so she goes around Maanum but Mead is very swift onto the scene.

She fouls Mead in the subsequent challenge and gets booked, though the referee really ought to have played an advantage because Maanum is in a great position to attack here.

Thought a lot of Arsenal’s plan was focused on their right side, it wasn’t exclusively so. Catley throws the ball to Foord here and Shimizu and Evans are on the scene.

Evans gets a toe on it and Russo is immediately pressing the loose ball and Shimizu has to slide the ball back to Walsh.

Walsh clears and Harries works the ball back to Evans under pressure. Catley is pressing well here and Evans has no choice but to go back and look at Russo, she is already interested in pressing Shimizu.

Evans’ pass is loose and Russo had smelt blood before that happened, she gives chase with the scent in her nostrils and she latches onto the ball and tees up Mead for the third.

Beth Mead is well and truly back! #BarclaysWSL @ArsenalWFC @bmeado9 pic.twitter.com/ADv7Dl6N3G

— Barclays Women’s Super League (@BarclaysWSL) November 26, 2023

Arsenal played a bit more within themselves in the second half and West Ham became braver in their own pressing. The game fell into a slightly different pattern. But West Ham fielding 11 right footers against a good pressing team like Arsenal played into their game plan to press Rehanne Skinner’s side and force them into uncomfortable situations. They used Cooney-Cross in the left of the midfield pivot so she could whip passes over to that right wing, where Mead and Maanum proved to be the match winners.

Six goals and nine assists in 18 matches suggest Bukayo Saka is thriving again this season, and yet, to watch the winger since August, it’s clear he’s not playing with the same freedom as last year.

The same can be said of Arsenal as a whole. Arguably the most exciting team to watch during in the 22/23 campaign, Arteta has his team tuned to a different frequency this time around, preferring to grind down opponents rather than blow them away.

Is it a deliberate ploy? Or have rivals just got a better measure of usr Perhaps it’s both.

That’s certainly something Saka seemed to suggest following Saturday’s 1-0 win at Brentford.

The Gunners were far from their fluid best at the Community Stadium but they found a way to unlock the Bees’ defence just in the nick of time; substitute Kai Havertz converting from close range after Saka finally found the space needed to curl a delicious cross to the back post.

“The managers know a bit more how we play and it’s up to us to adapt in each game and to find a solution,” Saka told the Evening Standard.

“Of course, each game is different but we know that we can be a lot better. We’re especially working on breaking teams down, but we’re still getting really good results and we’re top of the league. So we can be really happy.”

“I feel like a lot of games I’m facing a double team with two guys on me and it’s the same for Gabi [Martinelli],” he added.

“It’s happening in every game. I keep watching all my games back trying to find a solution, what I can do better.

“In the end, I just feel like I need to understand that this is how it’s going to be this season and I just need to deal with it and keep finding a way like I did today. That’s what I need to keep doing.”

Saka and Arsenal return to action on Wednesday when French side Lens visit the Emirates. The Gunners know a win will secure top spot in Group B with a game to spare.