Lens v Arsenal Champions League predictions: Tips, odds and team news
Lens and Arsenal face off in the Champions League on Tuesday at 8pm (UK time).
Lens vs Arsenal odds
Lens began only their third appearance in the Champions League – and a first since 2002/03 – with a 1-1 draw at Europa League holders Sevilla, Angelo Fulgini netting a first-half equaliser to earn a point. The French side have had a difficult start to their domestic season, losing four and drawing two of their opening six Ligue 1 matches, but looked to have turned that around with back-to-back wins against Toulouse and Strasbourg.
In their two previous Champions League campaigns (1998-99 and 2002-03), Lens lost just one of their six home matches (W3 D2). They won their last two in 2002/03, beating Deportivo de La Coruña and eventual winners Milan.
Arsenal, themselves ending a six-year absence from the competition, returned in emphatic fashion with a 4-0 home win over PSV Eindhoven in which four different players got on the scoresheet, with Bukayo Saka’s eighth-minute goal becoming the Gunners’ earliest ever goal scored in their opening match of a Champions League campaign. It’s the first time they have started a Champions League campaign with a win on MD1 since 2013/14 (2-1 v Marseille), while this was their biggest opening match victory in the competition since 2010/11 (6-0 v Sporting Braga).
The Gunners are unbeaten in their last nine Champions League group stage games (W7 D2). Only between November 2003 and September 2006 (17) have they had longer run without defeat in the group stages.
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Lens vs Arsenal predictions
Lens vs Arsenal: Predictions |
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| Bet | Prediction | Best odds |
| BTTS? | No | 21/20 with Betfair |
| Correct Score | 0-1 | 13/2 with Unibet |
| First Goalscorer | Martin Odegaard | 8/1 with Boylesports |
Odds correct at the time of writing. 18+ Only. Terms and Conditions Apply.
The stats behind our Lens vs Arsenal predictions:
- Arsenal are unbeaten in their last nine UCL group games.
- Lens have conceded in two of their last three home games.
- Arsenal have won 11 of their last 17 away European matches, losing only two
- Lens have conceded the first goal in their last two home games.
- Arsenal have scored in each of their last 10 games in the Champions League, scoring 25 goals in that run
- Three of Arsenal’s away wins this season have been 0-1 scorelines.
Lens vs Arsenal match tip
Arsenal to win by 1 Goal @ 11/4 with Bet365
Arsenal have won three of their four away games by a 0-1 scoreline this season and are yet to concede away from home so far this campaign. Lens have only scored more than one goal in one of their last seven matches across all competitions. The Gunners are unbeaten in their last nine UCL group games.
Lens vs Arsenal Bet-Builder tip
Arsenal to win to nil > Facundo Medina to be carded > Martin Odegaard to score anytime
Arsenal have won all four of their away matches so far this campaign without conceding a single goal. Facundo Medina has been booked in five of his last seven matches across all competitions for Lens, including the 1-1 draw with Sevilla in MD1. Martin Odegaard is one of two players to score 10+ league goals for Arsenal in 2023 alongside Bukayo Saka.
Lens vs Arsenal team news
Lens team news |
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| In | Out | Doubtful |
| – | Jimmy Cabot, Wuilker Farinez David Pereira da Costa, Massadio Haidara | – |
Jimmy Cabot, Wuilker Farinez, Massadio Haidara and David Pereira da Costa are all missing for Lens ahead of Arsenal’s visit.
Arsenal team news |
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| In | Out | Doubtful |
| – | Jurrien Timber, Thomas Partey | Gabriel Martinelli, Bukayo Saka |
Mikel Arteta, meanwhile, is still without Jurrien Timber and Thomas Partey with the former a long-term absentee following rupturing his ACL. Gabriel Martinelli has not featured since being forced off early in the first half against Everton on the 17th September, while Bukayo Saka may finally be given a rest.
Emile Smith Rowe has struggled to get his place in the Arsenal side since his return from injury, with the midfielder explaining how boss Mikel Arteta is helping him deal with the mental side of things.
“Being at a massive club like Arsenal, we know there is so much competition. It is always going to be challenging, it is always going to be difficult to cement your place in the team. I have just got to keep believing in myself. He said.
“Coming back and not quite getting back into the team, I have had to stay strong in my head and try to stay as positive as I can. “I think the gaffer has really helped me with that. He was helping me through my injury and often pulled me for chats about how I can be mentally stronger, stuff like that.”
The midfielder has played just 185 minutes of Premier League football since the start of last season and has not started a game in the English top flight since May 2022 against Newcastle, playing 20 minutes or more just once in that time.
Lens vs Arsenal head-to-head record
- 20/04/2000 – Lens 1-2 Arsenal – UEFA Cup
- 06/04/2000 – Arsenal 1-0 Lens – UEFA Cup
- 25/11/1998 – Arsenal 0-1 Lens – Champions League
- 16/09/1998 – Lens 1-1 Arsenal – Champions League
Arsenal have won two of their previous four meetings against Lens while suffering one loss.
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