Lens 2-1 Arsenal LIVE RESULT: Gunners on end of shock defeat in France while Bukayo Saka suffers injury – reaction
ARSENAL have suffered a shock defeat in France as Lens ran out 2-1 winners after an epic Champions League clash.
Gabriel Jesus gave the Gunners the lead inside 14 minutes with a stunning finish.
Lens equalised minutes later through Adrien Thomasson's emphatic strike to beat David Raya.
Elye Wahi scored the winner on the night as Arsenal lost their first game of the season in France.
In worse news for the Gunners, Bukayo Saka went off injured in the first half making him a huge doubt for Sunday's clash against Premier League title rivals Manchester City.
- Match result: Lens 2-1 Arsenal
- Lens team: Samba, Gradit, Danso, Medina, Frankowski, Mendy, Abdul Samed, Machado, Sotoca, Wahi, Thomasson
- Arsenal team: Raya, Tomiyasu, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Rice, Odegaard, Havertz, Saka, Jesus, Trossard
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RC Lens 1-1 Arsenal - Havertz challenge
30. Havertz leaves a little something on Gradit in the middle of the park.
Referee Guida has a word, but the German stays out of the book for now.
RC Lens 1-1 Arsenal
29. Gabriel Magalhaes is helped to his feet after a strong challenge - he looks okay to continue for the Gunners.
RC Lens 1-1 Arsenal
25. It was a superb goal by Adrien Thomasson and it's set the stadium alight once again.
David Raya will remember that mistake if Arsenal don't go on to turn this around.
THOMASSON GOAL - RC Lens 1-1 Arsenal
RC LENS ARE LEVEL! What a goal that is!! David Raya gives the ball away cheaply and Lens get it back.
Thomasson curls it past the Spaniard beautifully to level things up for the French side.
RC Lens 0-1 Arsenal
23. Forward come Lens again with a cross from Frankowski on the right hand side.
But Thomasson can't keep his volley down and it flies past Raya's goal.
RC Lens 0-1 Arsenal - Havertz effort
20. A long ball over the top from Martin Odegaard finds Kai Havertz who connects with a volley at the near post, but Samba saves it comfortably.
Intimidating atmosphere
Arsenal are having to deal with a cauldron of noise at Estadio Bollaert-Delelis tonight.
RC Lens fans are making their Champions League presence known.
Credit: PA RC Lens 0-1 Arsenal
What a finish it was from Jesus. Arsenal were given their first opportunity of the game and they took it straight away.
The Gunners are playing with confidence now. Cool. Calm. Collected.
GABRIEL JESUS GOAL - RC LENS 0-1 ARSENAL
15. Gabriel Jesus puts the visitors ahead! They've hardly been in the game, but they're ahead.
Jesus picked his spot and tucked it away in the bottom corner after a pass from Bukayo Saka found him.
RC Lens 0-0 Arsenal
12. Arsenal have finally settled into the game and have enjoyed some possession in the Lens half.
It's taken them 12 minutes, but the North Londoners seem to have finally got off the plane.
RC Lens 0-0 Arsenal
10. Lens come forward again as they continue to put pressure on the Gunners.
But a cross from the wing is collected comfortably by David Raya in the box.
RC Lens 0-0 Arsenal
8. Offside flag goes up as Lens are in again and head wide with Thomasson.
It's all Lens at the moment.
RC Lens 0-0 Arsenal - Danso effort
5. Inches away! What a start this is from Lens. Kevin Danso twists in the box and just misses the target for the French side.
Arsenal are struggling here and will need to re-focus in this intense atmosphere.
RC Lens 0-0 Arsenal
4. Lens come forward for the first attack of the game and a cross from Frankowski is cleared out for a corner by Gabriel.
The subsequent set piece is dealt with comfortable by Arsenal.
RC Lens 0-0 Arsenal
2. Nothing major just yet as Lens try and look after the ball and calm down the nerves.
Arsenal are playing under an impressive atmosphere in the Estadio Bollaert-Delelis tonight
KICK OFF
We're underway in tonight's clash between RC Lens and Arsenal!
The Gunners get the game underway in France as they try get off to a lightning fast start!
The teams are coming out
Both sets of players are heading out on to the pitch to hear that iconic Champions League anthem.
It's always a big night when Europe's elite face off under the lights.
A huge test for both of these teams to get through tonight with kick off just moments away!
Trossard returns
Arsenal fans will be keeping a keen eye on Leandro Trossard who returns to the starting line up after missing out on the Gunners' last few games.
The Belgian bagged a goal and an assist last time out when he helped Arsenal breeze through their Champions League match with PSV.
Building momentum
Tonight won't just be about getting the result for their Champions League group for Arsenal.
But it's also a chance for the Gunners to carry on their good form and build momentum ahead of a HUGE Premier League game on Sunday.
Mikel Arteta's side welcome Manchetser City to the Emirates Stadium and will be hoping to go into it in the best shape possible.
No Arteta press conference
Fans and media alike have been left wanting before tonight's game as Mikel Arteta was unable to carry out his media duties.
The Gunners boss was forced to cancel his press conference as a result of huge delays in Arsenal's flight from Luton last night.
But luckily for the Spaniard, he and his team escaped punishment from UEFA because the delay was not their fault.
Partey returns
Thomas Partey has returned to the Arsenal squad as the midfielder makes the bench for Mikel Arteta's side tonight.
The Ghana international has spent a period on the sidelines, but is back fit and could feature tonight.
The full benches for both sides are:
RC Lens: Leca, Pandor, Aguilar, Fulgini, Diouf, Maouassa, Said, Al Aynaoui, Khusanov, Guilavogui.
Arsenal: Ramsdale, Hein, White, Partey, Smith Rowe, Nketiah, Kiwior, Cedric, Jorginho, Vieira, Nelson, Elneny.
TEAM NEWS
The teams are out as we edge closer to kick off in tonight's clash.
Mikel Arteta has fielded a strong side with just two changes from his side that won 4-0 over Bournemouth at the weekend.
RC Lens: Samba (GK), Gradit, Danso, Medina, Machado, Frankowski, Mendy, Samed, Sotoca, Thomasson, Wahi
Arsenal: Raya, Tomiyasu, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko, Rice, Odegaard, Havertz, Saka, Trossard, Jesus
Brick wall Lens
Although Lens are struggling for league form this season, its not something they had problems with last term.
The French outfit finished second in Ligue 1 last season and conceded just 29 goals in 38 appearances.
No other team came close to them in the league with Rennes' 39 conceded being the nearest competitor.
Arsenal will face a tough challenge trying to break down Franck Haise's men this evening at Estadio Bollaert-Delelis.
Red hot Gunners
Arsenal will be protecting their unbeaten record in France tonight as they remain the only Premier League side yet to lose a game in all competitions this season.
Their 4-0 trashing of Bournemouth at the weekend showed exactly what the Gunners can do when they're firing.
And they'll be hoping to replicate that performance tonight against a Lens team that will try their best to disrupt their flow.
Welcome to RC Lens vs Arsenal
Welcome to the SunSport's coverage of RC Lens vs Arsenal as the Gunners continue their Champions League campaign at 8pm tonight.
It was a dream return to Europe's elite last time out in the Champions League for Mikel Arteta's men with a 4-0 victory over PSV Eindhoven at the Emirates Stadium.
Tonight the North London outfit are in France to take on Lens who will offer a different test with their defensive approach.
The Ligue 1 side are currently just one spot above the relegation zone domestically this term, but are second in Champions League Group B with a draw against Sevilla last time out.
Stay tuned to tonight's blog for all the action and updates from what is set to be a thrilling game.