Arsenal cruise into Champions League last 16 after hammering Lens
Arsenal stylishly cruised into the Champions League knockout stages as Group B winners by thrashing French club Lens 6-0 at Emirates Stadium. The Premier League leaders kicked off needing just a point to reach the last 16 of the competition following PSV Eindhoven’s 3-2 comeback win at Sevilla earlier on Wednesday evening. Mikel Arteta’s men duly delivered in devastating fashion thanks to first-half goals from Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard. Substitute Jorginho completed the scoring with a late penalty, awarded following VAR intervention for a handball by Abdukodir Khusanov. A one-sided encounter in north London was marred slightly by visiting fans throwing a lit flare at home supporters in the aftermath of Saka’s 23rd-minute strike. With first place in the pool emphatically secured with a game to spare, Gunners boss Arteta now has the luxury of being able to rotate his squad for next month’s visit to Eindhoven amid a hectic December fixture list which could determine the seriousness of his side’s title ambitions. The Spaniard made just two changes from Saturday’s dramatic 1-0 win at Brentford, which moved the Gunners top of the table. Havertz was recalled as reward for his late winner against the Bees, while on-loan goalkeeper David Raya was restored having been cup-tied against his parent club. Arsenal controlled proceedings from the first whistle and quickly blew away last season’s Ligue 1 runners-up. The recalled Havertz, who had already headed narrowly wide, capitalised on static defending to open the scoring in the 13th minute, poking beyond France keeper Brice Samba from close range following Jesus’ nod down. Lens’ vocal travelling support responded by throwing a pyrotechnic device on to the field before quickly seeing the game run away from their outclassed team. Jesus doubled the hosts’ advantage in the 21st minute, calmly sidestepping Kevin Danso and coolly slotting past Samba following strong running from Saka. England forward Saka quickly added to the punishment by finishing with his left thigh on the rebound after Samba poorly parried Martinelli’s initial effort. That unorthodox finish led to unsavoury scenes as an active flare was launched from the away end into home spectators in the tier above. Dominant Arsenal continued to shine brighter on the pitch and Martinelli lit up the contest with a wonderful fourth with only 27 minutes on the clock. The Brazil international raced away down the left flank and then cut inside Przemyslaw Frankowski to curl a sumptuous finish into the far corner. Arsenal’s first defeat of the season came in the reverse fixture in northern France at the start of October. On this evidence, most inside the ground must have been wondering how, albeit Lens’ Facundo Medina rattled the right post from distance during a rare foray forward. That proved to a fleeting moment of positivity for the away side, who went into the break 5-0 down after Odegaard expertly volleyed home Takehiro Tomiyasu’s cross. Arteta used a more subdued second period to rest some of his star names, with Saka and the outstanding Declan Rice among those withdrawn. Substitute Reiss Nelson came close to adding to the visitors’ embarrassment but his deflected effort was repelled by former Nottingham Forest keeper Samba. Lens’ misery was completed four minutes from time when Jorginho calmly sent Samba the wrong way from the spot after substitute Khusanov was punished for handling on review. Read More Erik ten Hag says Manchester United ‘have to learn’ from Galatasaray draw Man Utd set to face Galatasaray in Champions League despite bad weather Judd Trump marches into UK Championship quarter-finals Luke Donald humbled by players’ support for his return as Ryder Cup captain Exeter’s Rob Baxter urges football law-makers to be careful over sin-bins trial Defender Manuel Akanji admits Man City made ‘a lot of mistakes’ against Leipzig
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Erik ten Hag says Manchester United ‘have to learn’ from Galatasaray draw
Erik ten Hag says Manchester United are conceding too many goals but refused to blame Andre Onana despite the goalkeeper’s errors at Galatasaray severely damaging their chances of Champions League progression. Having lost three of four Group A games, Wednesday’s key clash in Istanbul began in dream fashion as Alejandro Garnacho’s early effort was followed up by a Bruno Fernandes rocket. Hakim Ziyech pulled one back from a free-kick that Onana will be disappointed to have been beaten by and he was guilty of an even worse error after Scott McTominay scored United’s third. The summer signing somehow failed to deal with another Ziyech free-kick and substitute Kerem Akturkoglu soon lasered past him as a mad match ended 3-3. The result leaves United bottom of their pool heading into the final round of fixtures, with the concession of 14 goals in just five Group A games the key issue. “We scored also quickly after each other,” United manager Ten Hag said. “It’s about the point when you are leading, when you are 2-0 up and you have to manage the game. Not so easy. “We give free-kicks away and we have to defend them better twice. I have to say also that is Hakim. He is brilliant, I know that. He is extraordinary. “To give free-kicks, it’s difficult to defend as well. In such areas, we have to be in more control. “It is always about incidents, always about details and some incidents we can manage better. “As a team, we have to learn from it because we are conceding too many goals and it is unnecessary and avoidable. “I am sure our team is experienced enough and capable enough to manage this and we will do better. “What is enjoyable is the progress we have and the way we play football. We dictated the game, we scored so many goals – it was about plan, creativity, being proactive and brave. That makes me happy.” United should have scored more but Onana will be under the spotlight after this draw, having also been guilty of errors in the losses away to Bayern Munich and at home to Galatasaray. While his key stoppage-time penalty save secured a win against Copenhagen, he endured another difficult Champions League night on Wednesday. “I think as a team we played very well,” Ten Hag said when asked about Onana. “We win and lose together. You see the progress in this team. I am disappointed because we should have managed the game better Erik ten Hag “I take many positives from this game. Some mistakes. We played like I want my team to play. “It was enjoyable to watch that proactive, dynamic, brave and we scored great goals. “Even after we had some setbacks, we kept going until the end and we should have won with big chances from Scott McTominay and (Facundo) Pellistri. “Of course, I am disappointed because we should have managed the game better, we will learn from that. Because this team is in development.” Asked how Onana is, he said: “He is OK. As I said, it is not about individuals. “Of course, individual errors in football can make a difference and you take responsibility for it but it is always about the team. “This team is good, all the players in the squad are good and deserve the best to play for Manchester United because they are brilliant players. “And that counts for the whole squad.” United are now sweating on their place in Europe, let alone the Champions League, heading into their group finale against already-qualified Bayern at Old Trafford. “It would be more frustrating if we play poor,” Ten Hag said. “But the performance is very good, it is enjoyable to watch how we dictate the game, how we create chances, that is actually fantastic. “But now there is more, if you can sort better the management of the game out then you start playing football. “The football is good, the performances are good but now we have to learn better how to manage this game.” Read More Man Utd set to face Galatasaray in Champions League despite bad weather Judd Trump marches into UK Championship quarter-finals Luke Donald humbled by players’ support for his return as Ryder Cup captain Exeter’s Rob Baxter urges football law-makers to be careful over sin-bins trial Defender Manuel Akanji admits Man City made ‘a lot of mistakes’ against Leipzig Will Zalatoris back in the swing after enduring ‘golfer’s worst nightmare’
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