Lens vs Arsenal predictions: Gunners set for tough away battle
- Lens are unbeaten in their last 11 competitive matches at home
- Arsenal have failed to beat Lens in their two previous Champions League meetings
- Recommended bet: Double Chance - Lens or Tie
Lens and Arsenal clash in Group B of the Champions League on Tuesday at 8pm and this could prove to be a tricky away assignment for the Premier League outfit.
The Gunners are unbeaten in 10 matches across all competitions this season and they marked their return to Europe's top table with a convincing 4-0 victory over PSV Eindhoven at the Emirates Stadium.
However, Mikel Arteta's troops now head to France to take on a Lens side who have picked up after a slow start and are undefeated in their last three outings.
Team news
Lens are set to be without Massadio Haidara, who has been absent since the opening group match against Sevilla with a thigh injury, while David Costa, Jimmy Cabot and Wuilker Farinez are all sidelined.
Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus both trained on Monday despite picking up knocks at the weekend and should be available, while Thomas Partey was also involved in the session and could be involved.
Gabriel Martinelli was not pictured in training and his availability remains unclear. Jurrien Timber is a long-term absentee and is not expected back until the New Year.
The stats
After failing to win any of their opening five fixtures of the season, Lens are unbeaten in three games heading into this European contest, following up a 1-1 draw at Sevilla with back-to-back wins over Toulouse and Strasbourg.
In Lens' previous two Champions League campaigns (1998-99 and 2002-03) they only lost one of their six home matches, while they have only lost one of their last 11 fixtures at Stade Bollaert-Delelis.
Arsenal have won all four away games this term, recording 1-0 victories over Crystal Palace, Everton and Brentford before beating Bournemouth 4-0 last time out.
The Gunners have failed to beat Lens in their previous two competitive meetings, drawing 1-1 in France before suffering a 1-0 defeat in Group E of the 1998-99 Champions League.
Prediction
There is no denying the fast start Arsenal have made this season, both domestically and in Europe, but when their performance levels drop it tends to come on the road.
Although winning all four away assignments, three of those have been by a 1-0 scoreline and, barring the recent success at Bournemouth, they are not exactly blowing teams away.
Had this trip to France come a few weeks ago, you would not have given Lens much of a chance, but an upturn in form that has the Ligue 1 outfit unbeaten in three games makes this a different proposition.
Franck Haise's side have been solid on home soil, losing just one of their last 11, and they showed how tough they can be when grabbing a 1-1 draw in Seville on matchday one.
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