Mikel Arteta is hopeful that Arsenal will ‘learn’ from defeat at Lens after the Gunners squandered a lead to lose to the Ligue 1 side.
Arsenal suffered a shock defeat as Lens came from behind to earn an upset win in France. Elye Wahi was the star of the show, as the 20-year-old set up Adrien Thomasson for Lens’ equaliser before turning home a winner from Przemyslaw Frankowski’s cross.
Arsenal had taken the lead through Gabriel Jesus’ goal, but suffered a blow when Bukayo Saka was forced off injured shortly after Thomasson’s equaliser for Lens.
“They are a really good side, exceptional opponent,” Arteta told TNT Sports.
“We took the lead and then in one action they managed to score. We had a big chance straight after the break.
“In many occasions we attacked the space – but it was [decided] in the boxes. We missed some big chances and didn’t defend well enough for their goals.
“Mistakes happen in football and they will continue to be there somehow but the difference was made in both boxes. You have to put the ball in the back of the net and defend well.
“It was a big night for us. We weren’t able to take the result we wanted but we were able to learn.”
Lens finished as runners-up in France last season but have endured a difficult start to the new campaign, sitting just one point above the Ligue 1 relegation places.
However, Franck Haise’s side have improved with back-to-back league wins and now lead Group B after taking four points from two games in their first Champions League campaign since 2002/03.
