Lens vs Arsenal final score, result as Wahi seals victory for Ligue 1 side after Bukayo Saka injury

Dom Farrell

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Lens vs Arsenal final score, result as Wahi seals victory for Ligue 1 side after Bukayo Saka injury image

Elye Wahi fired Lens to a famous 2-1 Champions League victory over Arsenal as Mikel Arteta was again left with fitness concerns over star winger Bukayo Saka.

The Premier League side absorbed early pressure in the Group B encounter at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis before Gabriel Jesus found a clinical 14th-minute finish on the end of Saka's pass.

Adrien Thomasson gave away possession on that attack but more than made amends with a fabulous finish from Wahi's lay-off before the half-hour.

There was more bad news for the Gunners shortly afterwards as Saka pulled up with an apparent thigh injury and hobbled off to be replaced by Fabio Vieira.

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Leandro Trossard and Takehiro Tomiyasu each went close after halftime but Lens hit the front through Wahi, who crashed Przemyslaw Frankowski's low cross beyond David Raya.

Franck Haise's side then dug in heroically to earn a deserved three points after 21 years away from the Champions League. For Arsenal, defeat and concerns over Saka's fitness made this far-from-ideal preparation for facing Manchester City this weekend.

Lens vs Arsenal final score

  Fulltime Goalscorers
LEN 2 Thomasson '25, Wahi '69
ARS 1 Jesus '14

Lineups:

Lens lineup (3-4-3, right to left): 30. Brice Samba (GK) — 24. Jonathan Gradit, 4. Kevin Danso, 14. Facundo Medina — 29. Przemyslaw Frankowski, 6. Salis Abdul Samed, 26. Nampalys Mendy, 3. Deiver Machado — 7. Florian Sotoca, 9. Elye Wahi, 28. Adrien Thomasson

Arsenal (4-3-3, right to left): 22. David Raya (GK) — 18. Takehiro Tomiyasu, 2. William Saliba, 6. Gabriel, 35. Oleksandr Zinchenko — 8. Martin Odegaard, 41. Declan Rice, 29. Kai Havertz — 7. Bukayo Saka, 9. Gabriel Jesus, 19. Leandro Trossard

Arteta's Saka gamble backfires

When Saka limped off late on during the 4-0 weekend win over Bournemouth, the warning signs seemed large and loud for Arteta. The 22-year-old shook off an ankle complaint to start at Lens and his pass for Jesus made him the first player in the top five leagues this season to chalk up both five goals and five assists.

That sort of influence is precisely why Arteta finds it almost impossible to fathom picking a team for an important game without Saka in it. Bournemouth was his 87th consecutive Premier League appearance, a run that stretches back to May 2021. Eventually, something has to give and Arsenal's star man suffering an apparent hamstring problem — not the injury that troubled him at the weekend — added fuel to the fire for those concerned that an exceptional talent is being run into the ground. 

If Saka's Premier League streak ends against City, with the treble winners having lost their past two matches across all competitions, his absence could scarcely be worse timed. The most galling thing for Arteta is he had ample warning.

Who is Elye Wahi?

Lens trotted out in gold jerseys that nodded towards their previous Champions League campaign in 2002/03. Their matchwinner tonight was not born when they bowed out in the first group stage that season.

For a club that has been riven by financial turmoil and struggles on and off the field since they were last at Europe's top table, Wahi's signing during the close season was a symbol of their newfound prosperity. The 20-year-old penned a five-year contract after joining for €35 million from Montpellier.

Wahi scored 19 times in 33 Ligue 1 games last season but has taken a bit of time to find his feet in new surroundings. The winner in a 1–0 victory at Strasbourg last weekend got him off the mark at the seventh time of asking and the France Under-21 international took his chance with aplomb against Arsenal, offering a glimpse of the future on a night when the past boomed loudly.

A fine all-round performance made Wahi the youngest French player to score and assist in the same Champions League game since a certain Kylian Mbappe made his breakthrough. No pressure...

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Gabriel Jesus shows his Champions League pedigree

From being a transformative signing last season, much of the conversation around Gabriel Jesus this term has already switched to whether he is of the required standard to take Arsenal to the next level. It's true that if the Brazil international was a reliable 25-30 goals-per-season striker he would probably still be at Manchester City.

But that doesn't mean Jesus isn't a player of considerable endeavour and skill who would enhance most teams. He now has 22 goals in 40 Champions League appearances over the course of his career. As Saka joins Gabriel Martinelli in the treatment room, Jesus' versatility in terms of being able to play as a wide attack could also come in handy.
 

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MORE: Where to watch Lens vs Arsenal live stream, TV channel, lineups, betting odds for Champions League match

Lens vs Arsenal as it happened, highlights, and commentary

Fulltime: Lens clear, Arsenal punt forward again, a scramble...there's the whistle. Incredible scenes here as Lens celebrate their return to the Champions League after more than 20 years by handing the Gunners their first defeat of the season. Gabriel Jesus put Arsenal ahead before Adrien Thomasson's fabulous equaliser. An injury to Bukayo Saka and Elye Wahi's winning goal made that a pretty grim night for Mikel Arteta.

90th minute+4: Vieira pumps one towards the far post. Arsenal have a corner. David Raya has come up! The corner is aimed towards the goalkeeper. Smith Rowe shoots. Another corner.

90th minute+1: Arsenal will have four additional minutes in which to save themselves.

89th minute: Somehow Arsenal don't equalise. Smith Rowe has been bright since coming on and he orchestrates a move that ends with Nelson firing towards the net and Gradit hacking away from the goalmouth. Samba eventually grasps the ball and there's a bit of afters.

85th minute: Smith Rowe finally finds some room to unleash a shot from outside the box. Samba's save is unconventional but he punches the ball comfortably clear.

81st minute: Eddie Nketiah is on as Arsenal's final throw of the dice. Odegaard makes way and Jesus takes the armband.

78th minute: Lens sitting in their own half, their fans singing with scarves aloft. Arsenal are probing but haven't created anything since going behind.

71st minute: Arteta springs into action with a triple change: White, Smith Rowe and Nelson replace Zinchenko, Havertz and Trossard.

69th minute: GOOOOAAAAALLLLLL!!!!! Elye Wahi!!!

Arsenal are picked apart far too easily down their left flank. Wahi has the presence of mind to hold his run and rifles the cutback beyond Raya. Bedlam! 

66th minute: Brilliant save from Samba! Odegaard's corner from the left finds Tomiyasu, who meets it sweetly on the volley. It was close enough to the Lens goalkeeper for him to produce a fabulous reaction stop.

64th minute: Saka is back out on the bench in a pair of tracksuit bottoms and a hoodie. Maybe a good sign for Arsenal. But that isn't! Gabriel with a loose pass and Lens pounce, with Samed surging into the box to fire into the side netting.

61st minute: We're past the hour and Lens continue to try and press high, with Arsenal seeking to take the sting out and control the game. Who will blink first?

54th minute: Machado wins a free-kick on the left. The delivery is flat and Havertz heads clear.

48th minute: Oohhh, Arsenal should be back in front. Jesus wins the ball back inside the Lens half and Havertz drives at a backpedalling defence before feeding Trossard. The Belgium winger shoots at Samba, who saves with his legs and is relieved to see Danso scramble the loose ball away. For a second it looked like a very unlucky own goal might be on the cards.

46th minute: We're back. The Lens fans still making a hell of a din. And why not?

Halftime: All square at the interval after a very entertaining half. Jesus' fine opening goal put Arsenal in charge but a nightmare five minutes then unfolded for the Premier League side, with Thomasson crashing in a superb equaliser and Saka heading down the tunnel with an injury. Catch you in a short while.

45th minute+1: Two minutes added time, which will begin with an Arsenal free-kick on the right. It's worked short, now Odegaard delivers. Jesus is in space at the back post but snatches at the chance and blazes way over.

43rd minute: Another long period of Arsenal possession. They've settled things down pretty well since the Thomasson goal and Saka's departure.

36th minute: Zinchenko slides a lovely pass down the left channel for Trossard. Medina makes the tackle and concedes the corner. Gabriel can't connect and Zinchenko looks to get Arsenal moving again, although this lofted pass skips out for a goalkick.

32nd minute: Well, well. This is a dreadful sight for all Arsenal fans. Saka, who took a knock during the closing stages of Saturday's 4-0 win over Bournemouth, is down on the turf. He gets some treatment but his race is run. Fabio Vieira enters the fray, which you would assume means Kai Havertz moving into the forward line.

25th minute: GOOOOAAAAALLLLLL!!!!! Adrien Thomasson!!!!!

My word, what a wonderful goal that is! Raya misjudges a chipped pace into midfield but there's still plenty for Lens to do. Wahi is picked out quickly, controls smartly on his chest and tees up Thomasson for a delicious curling first-time finish. That's certainly some way to atone for his part in Jesus' opener!

19th minute: Arsenal have been purring since taking the lead. Havertz, Saka and Trossard all involved before the switch play to the right and continue moving Lens around. Zinchenko finds Havertz over the top and the Germany international shoots on the volley to draw a near-post save from Samba.

14th minute: GOOOOAAAAALLLLLL!!!!! Gabriel Jesus!!!

Thomasson gives away possession carelessly in his own half and Arsenal pounce brutally. Saka feeds Jesus and the Brazil forward takes a touch out of his feet before steering a low shot across Samba into the bottom left corner from the edge of the area.

12th minute: Arsenal finally settle into a nice period of possession, Rice knitting things together. Gabriel finds Trossard with a lofted ball down the left but the move breaks down.

10th minute: Frankowski's latest delivery from the right it a bit too loopy and Raya gathers with ease.

8th minute: Thomasson glances header wide. A scrambling Raya had it covered but this is a good, enterprising start from the hosts.

4th minute: Wahi tries to run Tomiyasu, who grapples back at the Lens striker. It's another corner. Arsenal don't clear this one and former Southampton defender Danso swipes a shot just wide.

3rd minute: Gabriel forced to clear behind and Lens have an early corner from the right. Arsenal stand firm. 

1st minute: As the flare smoke clears, Arsenal get us underway.

4 mins to KO: Here come the teams. Lens stepping out in the Champions League for the first time in 21 years. They've had three relegations and promotions since then. It's some story. A victory tonight might just top any recent chapter.

15 mins to KO: This year marks the 90th anniversary of Lens moving to the Stade Bollaert-Delelis. It's a lovely spot for a game of football. Tonight's atmosphere will be cranked up a few notches.

40 mins to KO: Lens boss Haise is calling upon his dependable backline to tackle a tall task tonight. Goalkeeper Samba and the back three of Gradit, Danso and Medina were mainstays in their Ligue 1 campaign last season and key reason for Lens being here on this stage at all. In 38 top-flight games, Haise's men were breached just 29 times.

55 mins to KO: And this is the Lens team. Winger Adrien Thomasson comes in for their only change from the weekend.

1 hour to KO: The teams are in and Arsenal have gone strong. Saka starts alongside Trossard and Jesus in attack. Tomiyasu starting ahead of White at right-back is perhaps the only possible example of rest and rotation.

1 hr 20 mins to KO: Team news will be with us shortly. Arsenal have a mouthwatering Premier League encounter with champions Manchester City on Sunday, so it will be interesting to see whether Mikel Arteta rests any key men for this one. Bukayo Saka took a knock during the closing stages of Saturday's 4-0 win over Bournemouth.

Bukayo Saka of Arsenal
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1 hr 40 mins to KO: Arsenal swaggered back into the Champions League with a 4-0 win over PSV on matchday one. They did not have things all their own way when they last met Lens at this stage of the competitions, way back in 1998. The Gunners played their Champions League home games at Wembley that season and the Ligue 1 side left England's national stadium with a famous 1-0 win before drawing 1-1 back at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis, which also hosts tonight's game.

2 hours to KO: Hello and welcome to the Sporting News' live coverage of Lens versus Arsenal in Champions League Group B. Stay tuned for all the buildup and team news, before updates from the game itself.

Lens vs Arsenal lineups, team news

Lens secured a creditable 1-1 draw away at Sevilla in their Champions League opener. Adrien Thomasson comes into the front three, while Massadio Haidara and David Costa are still sidelined through injury.

Lens lineup (3-4-3, right to left): Samba (GK) — Medina, Danso, Gradit — Frankowski, Abdul Samed, Mendy, Machado — Sotoca, Wahi, Thomasson

Thomas Partey and Gabriel Martinelli remain out of action for Arsenal but star winger Bukayo Saka remained in the starting XI.

The England international was passed fit to start in the weekend's 4-0 Premier League win over Bournemouth, but he was forced off late on.

Arsenal lineup (4-3-3, right to left): Raya (GK) — Tomiyasu, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko — Odegaard, Rice, Havertz — Saka, Jesus, Trossard

Lens vs Arsenal live stream, TV channel

The Lens vs. Arsenal match from the Champions League kicks off at 9:00 p.m. local time from the Stade Bollaert-Delelis in Lens, France.

Here's how to watch the match across selected areas of the world's major regions:

MORE: Watch this Champions League match in the United States on Paramount+

Region TV Streaming
USA — Paramount+, ViX
Canada —

DAZN
UK TNT Sports 2 discovery+
Australia — Stan Sport
India — Sony LIV, JioTV
Hong Kong — beIN Sports Connect
Malaysia — beIN Sports Connect
Singapore — beIN Sports Connect
New Zealand — beIN Sports Connect

UK: This match will be available for live broadcast and streaming via TNT Sports and discovery+.

USA: This game is available to stream on Paramount+, with ViX providing coverage in Spanish.

Canada: Every Champions League game this season will stream exclusively via DAZN in Canada.

Australia: Every UEFA Champions League Match. 4K UHD. Exclusive & Ad-free on Stan Sport. The Home of UEFA Champions League

Dom Farrell

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Dom is the senior content producer for Sporting News UK. He previously worked as fan brands editor for Manchester City at Reach Plc. Prior to that, he built more than a decade of experience in the sports journalism industry, primarily for the Stats Perform and Press Association news agencies. Dom has covered major football events on location, including the entirety of Euro 2016 and the 2018 World Cup in Paris and St Petersburg respectively, along with numerous high-profile Premier League, Champions League and England international matches. Cricket and boxing are his other major sporting passions and he has covered the likes of Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, Wladimir Klitschko, Gennadiy Golovkin and Vasyl Lomachenko live from ringside.