Arsenal 6-0 Lens – Champions League LIVE: Gunners steamroll French side with FIVE first-half goals and six different scorers as they seal top spot in group

Apparently, Arsenal aren’t as attractive a watch as last season. Apparently.

Much of the narrative this week has focused on Mikel Arteta’s apparent ploy to stifle Arsenal; to repress their attacking instincts in search of making them harder to beat. There was very little evidence of that edict here.

Instead, we caught glimpse of this vibrant Arsenal team in all its glory. Penetration, intensity and flair. And – most importantly – goals. Loads of them.

As messages go, this was emphatic as they come. Arsenal are through to the Champions League knockout stages – and they booked their passage with a display that will fire the frighteners up the rest of Europe.

After a six year hiatus from the continent’s premier club tournament, their passage into the last-16 is no mean feat.

It shouldn’t have been taken for granted. Yet, they’ve achieved it with minimal fuss, with a game to spare.

We shouldn’t be surprised, of course. This is a team bursting with brilliance.

William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes are Rolls Royce central defenders. Declan Rice is one European football’s elite central midfielders. Martin Odegaard is poetry in motion.

Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus are lethal in attack.

An eye-catching blend of power, guile and ability – a mixture that is fast becoming the envy of Europe.

When the draw for the business end of this competition takes place next month, you can bet your bottom dollar that everyone will want to avoid Arteta’s juggernaut.

What could have been an uncomfortable night here in north London, particularly given Lens won the reverse fixture, transpired into one of luxury for the Gunners.

Any pre-match anxieties created by PSV’s win in Sevilla were ruthlessly dealt with in the space of an incapsulating 45 minute spell of callous attacking football. Five goals by half-time. It could have been eight.

By the end of it all, you almost fell sorry for Lens. Like a rabbit caught in the headlights they were motionless, helplessly awaiting their fate.

The result in Spain meant Arsenal needed a point. They could have eased their way in this game. Perhaps Lens, given the jeopardy, thought they might.

No chance. There was nothing coy about this from Arsenal. Cold-blooded. Cut throat.

Lens didn’t help themselves. Their defending was more akin to what you’d find on nearby Hackney Marshes on a Sunday morning than here at the Emirates. For their goalkeeper Brice Samba – this was a night that will haunt him.

But any team in Europe would have struggled to contain the relentlessness and acceleration of Arsenal’s offensive assaults.

Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard were all on the scoresheet before the break as Arsenal became the first side ion Champions League history to have as many as five different scorers – excluding own goals – in a match.

Takehiro Tomiyasu nabbed himself a couple of assists, his searching ball out to Martinelli to set-up Arsenal’s fourth unquestionably the pass of the night.

Lens had no answer, though Facundo Medina hit the upright towards the end of the first half, though David Raya appeared to have the efforts covered.

This was the first time an English side has led by five or more goals in Champions League history.

Credit to the travelling supporters, they remained in good voice throughout – though you’d imagine there was a sense of gallows wit about their continued support.

It’s a shame their team failed to show as much gumption. As you’d expect the second half died a death, though Lens were buried way before the restart.

Ben White and Jakub Kiwior were thrown one at half-time, while Lens he’d coach Franck Haise made all his five substations inside 75 minutes.

Arsenal, who named Ethan Nwaneri, 16, and Myles Lewis-Skelly 17, as substitutes had one more goal in them – Jorginho stroking home from the spot after VAR adjudged that Abdukodir Khussanov had handled in the box. Six of the best for Arsenal.

More to follow…