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Arsenal put in a clinical display as they hammered Lens 6-0 on Wednesday night (November 29) to win Group B in the UEFA Champions League.
Kai Havertz continued his career resurgence when he opened the scoring in the 13th minute. The German attacker hit home from close range after fine work from Gabriel Jesus.
The Brazilian frontman then got himself on the scoresheet in the 21st minute. Bukayo Saka brilliantly drove at the Lens defense before finding Jesus with an astute pass which he buried past former Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Brice Samba.
Arsenal were rampant and they took a 3-0 lead just two minutes later. Gabriel Martinelli's attempt was saved by Samba but the ball fell to Saka who bagged his seventh goal of the season.
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Mikel Arteta's men weren't done there and they hit a fourth goal in the 27th minute courtesy of Martinelli. The Brazil international was played a superb ball by Takehiro Tomiyasu and he weaved his way past Polish winger Przemysław Frankowski before slotting home.
Tomiyasu produced the goods yet again in the 45+1st minute as Arsenal took a remarkable 5-0 lead before half-time. Gunners captain Martin Odegaard got in on the action, volleying home the Japanese right-back's cross.
The north Londoners became the first-ever English club to lead by five goals at half-time in the Champions League. It was a breathtaking first 45-minute showing from the hosts at the Emirates.
Arteta's men had the opportunity to make it 6-0 in the 85th minute when Portuguese referee Artur Dias awarded them a penalty. Jorginho made no mistake from the spot to round off a perfect win.
One fan hailed Arteta's men for their attacking performance:
"Fluid free flowing football, this is that prime Teta ball from last year."
Another fan alluded to Manchester United stumbling in a 3-3 draw against Galatasaray:
"They showing United how its done."
Here's how fans on X (formerly Twitter) reacted to a scintillating showing from Arsenal:
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard was thrilled to see Kai Havertz net winner vs Brentford
Havertz has endured a frustrating spell at Arsenal since joining from Chelsea in the summer for £67.5 million. The Germany international has struggled in front of goal and many had concluded he'd flopped.
However, the 24-year-old came up trumps in the Gunners' 1-0 win against Brentford on Saturday (November 25). He bagged an 89th-minute winner after coming off the bench.
Havertz's captain Odegaard was delighted his teammate put his struggling period behind him. He said (via TBRFootball):
"He deserves that moment, it’s been difficult for him at times, but he’s been working so hard and he’s a big part of this team. He’s a great guy too and he deserved that goal, I was so happy for him."
The Gunners midfielder has followed that match-winning goal up with another in the destruction of Lens. It bodes well for Arteta who placed his faith in the German when signing him from Chelsea after a disappointing 2022-23 campaign.
