Adrien Thomasson after Lens’ 2-1 Champions League win against Arsenal: “We knew we had to be extraordinary.” | OneFootball

Lens attacking midfielder Adrien Thomasson was jubilant after Les Sang et Or‘s 2-1 win in the Champions League group stage against Arsenal. Goals from Thomasson and Elye Wahi canceled out Gabriel Jesus’ first-half opener.

Franck Haise’s side have rocked up to the top of Group B with four points out of a possible six following their 1-1 draw at Sevilla on matchday 1. Thomasson has opened up on the Artois side’s ability to overcome contrary events. “It was a roller-coaster of a first half“, said Thomasson to Canal+. The former Nantes player was at fault for Arsenal’s opener but he emphatically made amends for it by dispatching a brilliant curling effort in David Raya’s net. “After the first goal, let’s say I had a bad time. But I managed to flip the switch and that equalizing goal made me and the team some good.“

Lens then dominated the second half against an Arsenal side missing Bukayo Saka’s pace following the winger’s injury. “We knew that, if we continued to attack them and if we defended by moving forward, we were going to get chances and that’s what we managed to do.” After Wahi gave his side a deserved lead, Lens had to hold on to three historic points against one of Europe’s best teams. “We knew we had to be extraordinary, that we all had to raise our game and that’s what we did. I think we were valiant until the end.”

GFFN | Bastien Cheval