Arsenal secured their place in the Champions League knockout stages as Group B winners with a commanding 6-0 victory over French club Lens at Emirates Stadium.
The Premier League leaders only needed a point to advance to the last 16 after PSV Eindhoven’s comeback win at Sevilla earlier that evening. Mikel Arteta’s team delivered an emphatic performance with first-half goals from Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Martin Odegaard. Jorginho, coming on as a substitute, completed the scoring with a late penalty.
Despite the one-sided nature of the match, the joyous atmosphere was marred when visiting fans threw a lit flare at home supporters after Saka’s 23rd-minute goal.
With first place in the group secured, Arteta can now rotate his squad for the next match in Eindhoven, given the luxury of having already advanced to the knockout stages.
Arsenal dominated from the start, and Lens struggled to keep up. Havertz opened the scoring in the 13th minute, followed by goals from Jesus and Saka. Martinelli added a fourth with a brilliant finish, and Odegaard volleyed home a fifth before halftime.
Arsenal continued to control the game in the second half, and Jorginho’s late penalty sealed the comprehensive victory. The result allows Arteta to rest key players in the upcoming matches, providing flexibility during a busy December schedule.