Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta spoke glowingly of Tuesday night’s Champions League opponents RC Lens, and said that he expects a “big battle.”
Lens struggled in the early part of the Ligue 1 season. Having run Paris Saint-Germain close for the title last season, they were winless after five games and in the relegation zone. However, following a draw against Sevilla in their Champions League opener, there has been an uptick in their league form. They have won two games on the bounce (2-1 v Toulouse, 1-0 v Strasbourg) and are now looking to pull off an upset against Arsenal when European football returns to the Stade Bollaert for the first time in 20 years on Tuesday night.
After storms in the UK disrupted Arsenal’s travel plans, Arteta’s side have now arrived in France. In a delayed press conference, the Spanish manager was full of praise for Lens. “I was really impressed by what they did last year. It’s incredible to be one point away from the title and finish second. I was also impressed by the way in which they did it, and by their home form,” said Arteta.
He added that he doesn’t believe Lens’ 16th-place ranking in Ligue 1 is a true reflection of their level. “This season, they’ve been very unlucky with some results and I don’t know why they don’t have more points. We expect a big battle on Tuesday. We’re fully aware of that. We explained that to the players and we know it’s a big test,” said Arteta, in a press conference transcribed by L’Équipe.
GFFN | Luke Entwistle
