After our win at home against PSV, we are now traveling away to Lens in Northern France. If anything, Lens is a city of football with a wonderful stadium (Bollaert) and supportive fans. The atmosphere will be fantastic in...
After our win at home against PSV, we are now traveling away to Lens in Northern France. If anything, Lens is a city of football with a wonderful stadium (Bollaert) and supportive fans. The atmosphere will be fantastic in the stadium but unfortunately, recently, Lens has had an issue with very rowdy fans as well so if you are going to Lens tonight, keep safe. Lens did amazingly well last year and are coached by Haise – I am sure we will see him in the EPL soon in a team like Brighton, Southampton, Leicester before eventually making it to a bigger team. He is a really good coach and the Lens team will be prepared to face us tactically. They did lose their talsmanic player in Fofana and their break-out star in Openda but they did recruit some interesting players like Wahi, Diouf and Fulgini. So they are not as good as last year yet but they have been able to soften the blow of some key departures. They will play with heart and they will stay disciplined too. Their key playeres are:
Samba (GK), a good shot stopper, he has improved his aerial ability and distribution Danso (CB), the Austrian international was touted to leave this summer but Lens managed to keep him. Reminds me a bit of Saliba. Frankowski/Machado (WB), former midfielders with great engines turned into industrious wingback with great delivery and passing ability. Sotoca (AM), a clever player that sees the pass, loves one-two (pass-return pass) plays and has a decent shot in him. Very good at playing in between the DM and CB and reads the game well. Wahi (CF), an up and coming striker. Strong with already a good game with his back to the goal, he has a fierce shot and can press well. He will be a handful.Gradit is also mostly reliable at the back and Thomasson can have good games up front. Medina, Samed and Mendy can sometimes be more erratic in their performances. Lens will play in a 3-4-2-1 most likely:
Lens : Samba – Gradit, Danso, Medina – Frankowski, Abdul Samed, Mendy, Machado – Sotoca, Thomasson – Wahi.
I expect Arteta to line up in a 433 tonight and this is a game where we will need physicality in the middle (GK-CB-DM-CF) and pace on the wings (RB, RW, LB, LW). The Lens block is not easy to move around and the game will ultimately be unlocked by a clever pass from the middle of the pitch (Odegaard?). If I were Arteta, I would play the following line up:
Ramsdale – Tomy, Kiwior, Gabriel, Zinchenko – Odegaard, Rice, ESR – Nketiah, Havertz, RN
but I expect Arteta to play the following line-up
Arsenal : Raya – White, Saliba, Gabriel, Zinchenko – Odegaard, Rice, Havertz – Saka, Jesus, Trossard (if available).
It will be a hard game but we should manage a win. 1-2, goals from Havertz and Nketiah.
COYG!
