Lens 2-1 Arsenal: David Raya error helps French side come from behind to shock Gunners and go top of Champions League group after Gabriel Jesus opener

• Gabriel Jesus gave the visitors an early lead with a brilliant finish after being found by Bukayo Saka
• David Raya’s poor ball allowed Lens to mount an attack with Adrien Thomasson producing a brilliant equaliser 
• Elye Wahi gave the home side the lead with another quality finish as the visitors went on to miss big chances 

Once the ball left David Raya’s foot, one could sense his panic. It was a poor clearance which ultimately cost Arsenal the lead.

The error particularly of note due to his inclusion in the team at the expense of Aaron Ramsdale is based upon his passing distribution.

Yet when Bukayo Saka hobbled off the pitch, his head looking towards the floor, after clutching his thigh, Mikel Arteta could likely smell the omens in the sky.

It was why Elye Wahi’s glide into the box to finish Przemysław Frankowski’s cross, the sense of it all going from bad to worse had a predictability about it.

The Gunners were not at their best in truth, but Lens were very much near theirs.

Saka is central to the way this team play, producing the pass here which resulted in Gabriel Jesus’ opening goal.

Hindsight is a virtue, yet it can’t be argued that his inclusion last night was a risk after receiving a knock against Bournemouth.

How Arteta will wish to rewind the clock.

As a sea of red and yellow made itself heard across the Stade Bollaert-Delelis, one could sense what it all meant to the home faithful. Plumes of smoke and flares billowed in the air before kick-off.

This is their first Champions League campaign since 2003. Times like this are rare in these parts and having earned a point against Sevilla on matchday one, Lens optimism was high.

There is also the European connection between both clubs, Arsenal having played their first-ever Champions League game away here, a 1-1 draw, 25 years and 17 days ago to the day.

Arsenal’s preparations had not gone completely to plan, their flight on Monday afternoon stranded at Luton Airport for almost five hours due to a storm.

Arteta made a couple of changes to the team that beat Bournemouth on Saturday.

After an impressive performance against Brentford last week, Takehiro Tomiyasu came in for Ben White.

White had featured in all of the Gunners’ 10 games thus far, so a rest was incoming.

Eddie Nketiah made way for Leandro Trossard in the front three, and Thomas Partey returned to the bench for the first time since suffering a thigh injury prior to the international break.

The home side produced an early scare, centre back Kevin Danso’s shot into the ground off a corner closely flying past Raya’s left post after four minutes.

Their set-up tried to nullify Saka on the right, marked by two men, and with an eye to getting the ball into the box where possible.

Yet the first opportunity Saka had to break forward, Arsenal were in front. He intercepted a lax pass by Adrien Thomasson to play Jesus through, who coolly slotted past goalkeeper Brice Samba.

Minutes later, Kai Havertz could have doubled the lead, his volley off Oleksandr Zinchenko’s aerial delivery straight at Samba.

In fairness it was a difficult chance, his execution impressive with the ball coming from over his shoulder.

That was swiftly forgotten about on 25 minutes. Raya’s poor clearance fell to the on-rushing Deiver Machado, his aerial pass reaching Florian Sotoca who chested the ball on to Thomasson.

He unleashed a fizzing curler with venom past Raya. What a move, what a goal. A reminder to the Gunners that the French team were not here just for the fanfare.

Saka going down in pain and having to be replaced by Fabio Vieira before half-time had compounded matters. How long the winger now faces out is uncertain.

Upon the restart, Trossard darted into the area, made a sharp cutback, but his shot deflected back to the keeper.

Lens were growing in confidence, as well as the decibel levels. Declan Rice diligently patrolled the midfield area for interceptions, yet the French side were pressing hard.

Man of the moment Thommason’s pull-back delivery saw Salis Abdul Samed’s shot fly wide after 63 minutes, though three minutes later the Gunner should have pulled ahead. Martin Odegaard’s corner fell to Takehiro Tomiyasu all alone in the area.

He could only crash the ball into the keeper’s boot. This was such a crucial moment the defender should really have seized.

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