LIVE – Lens-Arsenal, D-1: many English supporters expected, a match classified as high risk

Takeoff at 10 p.m. from London’s Luton airport, arrival in Lille scheduled in 30 minutes before returning to their hotel. Arsenal players were normally scheduled to take off at 5:15 p.m. As a reminder, Arsenal did not carry out its match day media activities due to the plane being delayed due to weather conditions. Gunners coach Mikel Arteta held a press conference with the English media from the plane and by telephone before facing Lens tomorrow. “I was really impressed with what they did last year. It’s amazing to finish in that position, and the way they did it, the form they had at home. This season , they were unlucky with some results. I don’t know why they didn’t take more points, so we are expecting a huge battle tomorrow. We are more than aware of that. It’s a very good team and we have a huge test ahead of us tomorrow.”

Tomorrow evening, 1,800 English supporters are expected in Lens where the atmosphere promises to be exceptional for the return of the C1. RC Lens has put seats back in the visitor park as recommended by UEFA. On the other hand, the three parts of the “standing” stands at the Boallert stadium will remain in the same configuration as Ligue 1 matches. In the process, this system is permitted if the opposing club accepts this mode of organization.

The match is classified as high risk by local authorities who expect many England fans without tickets. Great attention will also be paid to the procession of the English to Bollaert on Tuesday evening. It was especially the match against PSV at the end of October that worried the authorities the most.

>> All the information is here

NP and JB

Quite a rare scene in the Champions League. While the trip is short, Arsenal will not hold its press conference this Monday evening on the eve of the match against Lens. The reason ? The Gunners’ plane took off very late from London, several hours late at departure. Mikel Arteta and William Saliba’s press conference was scheduled for 7 p.m. this Monday evening. It was then announced for 8:30 p.m. Then postponed again before being canceled. The group had trained this morning in London at their training center.

NP

Sotoca: “We had this match in Seville where there was a lot of intensity. Tomorrow, it’s another match. Last year, they finished 2nd with 84 pts. They are on their way at the start of the season , they are undefeated with a roughly equal group. We know what awaits us but with our little experience, we will try to hinder them. The club has put things in place to make things easier. We will see where We’re at the end of 90 minutes.”

Haise: “In the Champions League, it’s a pleasure to be there. Hosting this match in Bollaert is a pleasure, an adrenaline rush. We’re in this configuration.”

Haise: “The pitch will tell the truth. The technical level, the collective mastery and what has been created by coach Arteta makes me think that Arsenal are superior in the group. But every match has its truth.”

“Via the jersey or certain supporters who experienced these matches, it will be a blink of an eye but we will have to build our moment.”

Sotoca: “We need more concentration, more technical mastery. These are not easy matches. Arsenal, Sevilla and PSV are used to playing in European Cups but we must not be self-conscious, we want to show our true colors face. We’ll try to annoy them as much as possible.”

Haise: “Possession isn’t the key to winning the match. I hope to have some time in control because that’s one of our principles.”

Haise: “It’s a nod to history and what the club went through 20 years ago. The red is different. It’s also a nod to the present moment, to the team which sought qualification. We play these matches to win them, we know the difficulty of the task. To mark the history of the club I don’t know, but for us.”

Sotoca: “We experienced extraordinary atmospheres. Playing a European Cup match here is nice to experience. It’s a lot of pride but we will have to play this match and not watch ourselves. We expect a big atmosphere, like we had in Seville.”

Haise: “He is a superb player, intelligent and technically skilled.”

Sotoca: “We knew it wouldn’t be easy in Seville because they have the experience of playing these matches. We are outsiders, little thumbs. We have no fear, it’s just fun . If we have to fear, it is not showing our true colors.”

Haise: “This competition, we are there and we deserved to be there. Yes, we are outsiders. Compared to Arsenal, we are not going to compare ourselves.”

Haise: “Victures lead to an increase in confidence, they did good for the whole group. Thanks to this meeting, we were able to live up to what the Champions League is.”

Sotoca: “Since the start of the season, the content has been good, except in Monaco. We hadn’t lost everything in two months. It’s better to be on seven points instead of two.”

Haise: “In the Champions League, certainly. It’s a big challenge. The experience, the quality, the past, the present of this team… Teams like that, we met in Ligue 1, like Paris , and we got results.”

Sotoca: “It will be a lot of emotions, before and during the match. But we want to show our true colors. It’s up to us to show our qualities, we will do everything to annoy this team.”

“We will be in a group close to the one against Strasbourg. Haïdara is out as well as David Perreira Da Costa.”

Franck Haise and Florian Sotoca will answer questions from journalists from the Bollaert stadium.

For Bollaert’s reunion in the Champions League on Tuesday during Lens-Arsenal on Tuesday (9 p.m. on RMC Sport), the Pas-de-Calais club is releasing a yellow/gold collector’s jersey inspired by the team’s last campaign in the competition in 2002-2003. Several former players who participated take part in the spot broadcast by the club on social networks: John Utaka, Guillaume Warmuz, Eric Sikora and Daniel Moreira. A thought for the late Papa Bouba Diop, who died in 2020, also appears in the clip

More information here.

Replaced a quarter of an hour from the end of the match against Bournemouth (0-4 victory) this weekend in the Premier League, Bukayo Saka was present this Monday morning at Colney, the Gunners training center. Ghanaian midfielder Thomas Partey, injured in the groin and absent for several weeks, is also present in training. Still a little tight, he could be kept warm against Lens to make his return on Sunday in the league against Manchester City.

For his part, Gabriel Martinelli, injured in the thigh, is absent.

Lens finds Arsenal in the Champions League, twenty-five years after becoming the first French team to win at Wembley (0-1) with a goal from Michaël Debève.

After four defeats and a draw in the league, Lens has regained color since its good result obtained on the field of Sevilla FC (1-1) two weeks ago on the first day of the Champions League. The Sang et Or have since won their first two victories in the league against Toulouse (2-1), then in Strasbourg (0-1) this weekend.

Welcome to our live to follow all the information before Bollaert’s big reunion with the Champions League during the Lens-Arsenal clash, Tuesday (9 p.m., on RMC Sport).