Arteta gets his statement win but far tougher tests lie ahead

Arsenal's last-16 opponents won't be as naive as Lens side ripped to shreds in opening blitz

- Dan Kilpatrick

TOP of the Premier League after 13 games and group winners in the Champions League in just five, Arsenal continue to show real promise this season.

While their domestic form has been more attritional than attractive, however, Arsenal have largely been exhilarating in Europe, and last night's thrashing of Lens was the statement performance Mikel Arteta had called for before the game.

Arsenal had the match wrapped up after 23 minutes, when Bukayo Saka scored their third, and led 5-0 at the interval through five different scorers.

In the League, they are developing a habit of narrow victories leading Jamie Carragher this week to claim they would not win the title unless they start scoring more-but Arsenal are prolific in Europe and last night added to a sense that Arteta's side are well-suited to Champions League football.

Perhaps the free-scoring Arsenal that Carragher wants to see will be mainly reserved for the more open expanses of the European game. Admittedly, their group looked kind on paper and Arsenal have been helped through to the knockouts by some obliging opponents.