Arsenal FC will certainly be out to exact some revenge when they host RC Lens in a UEFA Champions League group stage clash on Wednesday night. The Gunners lost the reverse fixture, so they know how tough this match will be in midweek. And it’s not just vengeance that could be achieved with a win here, as three more points will go a very long way towards clinching passage to the knockout round as Group B winners.
Obviously, that would be the best case scenario for the North-Londoners, who currently sit top of their domestic league.
RC Lens at Arsenal FC FYIs
Kickoff: Wed. Oct. 3, 8pm, Emirates Stadium, London, UK
Competition: UEFA Champions League Group B Matchday 5 of 6
Arsenal Preview Content: Team News Starting XI Prediction
Uefa Champions League Form: Arsenal FC 1st, 9 pts WWLW RC Lens 3rd, 5 pts, LDWD
Transatlantic Passage: How the Premier League Redefined Soccer in America: LINK
Google Result Probability: Arsenal FC 73% Draw 17% RC Lens 10%
In terms of predicting the first team for this one, Mikel Arteta has plenty of no-brainer selections. Kai Havertz will come back into the first team, given his heroics on Saturday. David Raya had to sit out, due to that match being against his parent club, so he’ll come back into the first team too.
Obviously, Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, Willam Saliba and Bukayo Saka are all penciled in for any match with meaning as well.
Also, lots of Gabriels in our first team prediction.
Arsenal FC Starting XI Prediction vs RC Lens (UCL Group Stages)
David Raya; Ben White, William Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Takehiro Tomiyasu; Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz; Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus, Gabriel Martinelli.
Paul M. Banks is the owner/manager of The Sports Bank. He’s also the author of “Transatlantic Passage: How the English Premier League Redefined Soccer in America,” and “No, I Can’t Get You Free Tickets: Lessons Learned From a Life in the Sports Media Industry.”
He’s written for numerous publications, including the New York Daily News, Sports Illustrated and the Chicago Tribune. He regularly appears on NTD News and WGN News Now, while writing for the International Baseball Writers Association of America. You can follow the website on Twitter.