Wahi, Samba and... Raya condemn Arsenal to humiliating 2-1 defeat against Ligue 1's 15th force

By Alessandro Schiavone at Stade Bollaert-Delelis

Lens 2-1 Arsenal

Goals - (Gabriel Jesus (A), Thomasson (L), Elye Wahi (L)

Elye Wahi ran Arsenal’s defence ragged as an assist and a goal helped Lens come from behind following Gabriel Jesus’ opening goal to register a shock 2-1 win over the Gunners at Stade Bollaert-Delelis. 

The win sees Lens move up to the top of Group B on their own after PSV Eindhoven and Seville shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw in the south of the Netherlands.

David Raya was certainly no ray of light for his side as his cock-up gifted Ligue 1's (for now) 15th worst side the equaliser during Arsenal’s best spell and moment of supreme dominance. 

This ground proves to be cursed for the Gunners who drew here in the 1998/1999 Champions League edition. That day Marc Overmars put Arsenal ahead before Tony Vairelles, behind bars these days, salvaged a point for Les Sang et or in the 92nd minute.

There were several factors involved in Arsenal's unexpected defeat. First of all, the famous Bollaert crowd, of course. Some argue the vocal fans won the game. and they are right. Besides, ex-Nottingham Forest keeper Samba kept his side in the game with a string of terrific saves, most notably when his outstretched foot thwarted Tomiyasu with the scores level midway through the second-half. Psychologically Arsenal never recovered from it.

But Raya equally stamped his name on Lens' famous win as his poor distribution gave them a route back into the game and renewed optimism.

After surviving an early scare through ex-Southampton flop Kevin Danso who dragged his shot wide following a corner, Arsenal began to take control. The quality of their passes rose a level as they began to stretch Lens. So it was only a matter of time before Jesus delivered a 14th  minute knockout punch. Released by the quick-thinking Saka, the Brazilian picked his spot, rolling a low effort into the bottom far corner to silence the Bollaert crowd. 

Kai Havertz then spilled a golden opportunity to put daylight between the two sides when he fired his volley straight at Samba. In on goal, the German had the time and space to open his body up and sidefoot his effort into the top corner. And what a real shot in the arm that missed opportunity proved to be for Lens who were far from deflated and started throwing bodies forward. Hence their spirit, willingness to fight for every ball and courage got rewarded eleven minutes later. 

Raya cocked up big time when he misjudged a schoolboy clearance which led to the Sang et Or’s equaliser. Colombian left-back Deiver Machado intercepted the ball before playing it forward to Wahi who was lurking on the edge of the box. With two Arsenal defenders on his back, the club’s record signing kept his cool to flick the ball into the path of Thomasson who curled a missile into the top corner. The ground exploded, this was Lens’ first Champions League goal in 21 years.

Jesus faded like the rest of his teammates, skying his effort on the stroke of half-time before disappearing altogether from the game.

After the restart, the superb Samba kept out Trossard’s shot with his leg.

France's understudy goalkeeper Samba, who has been described by teammate Jonathan Gradit as "one of the best goalkeepers in the world" to this outlet after the game showed exactly why he enjoys such high recognition when he stopped Tomiyasu's effort with an incredible reflex-save. Lens again drew confidence from Samba's cool-headedness before going on to win the game.

Superstar-in-the-making Wahi scored the first Champions League goal of his promising career after brilliantly putting Frankowski's delivery away.

Lens are in paradise while Arsenal must waste no time in picking themselves up with Man City travelling to London in less than five days

It remains to be seen though whether Raya is still in goal for that one.

Lens 

Samba Machado Danso Samed Wahi Medina Gradit Mendy Thomasson Frankowski 

Arsenal 

Raya Tomiyasu Saliba Gabriel Zinchenko Rice Odegaard Havertz Saka Trossard Jesus