Second string out of tune

Many people have suggested that Arsene Wenger was looking through rose-tinted spectacles when he asserted that his squad players…

Many people have suggested that Arsene Wenger was looking through rose-tinted spectacles when he asserted that his squad players were up to the job. Last night it took a polished Lens to conclusively see through the Arsenal manager's assertion.

The French champions knocked their English counterparts out of this competition, admittedly with a goal which looked offside but with an ease which once again exposed the lack of top-quality players among Arsenal's reserves.

The faltering Gunners needed a win to keep alive their quarterfinal qualification hopes but the loss of three key players proved too much of a handicap. Injuries to Dennis Bergkamp and Patrick Vieira, plus the suspension of Emmanuel Petit, left Arsenal too thin on the ground to pose a serious challenge to Lens.

Arguably Arsenal's most threatening moment came in injury-time when Ray Parlour engaged in a wrestling match with Cyril Rool, kicked him in frustration and was promptly sent off. Two minutes later Lens were also reduced to 10 men when the striker Tony Vairelles was dismissed for a challenge on Lee Dixon.

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But the real damage had been done on 72 minutes when Mickael Debeve scored to keep his side in with a quarter-final chance.

Arsenal's parlous position in this group could have been avoided, of course, had they taken just one more of the many chances they squandered against Lens in their opening group tie in September which finished 1-1. Further precious chances went begging in the 1-1 draw at home to Dynamo Kiev, costing Arsenal four points in all.

After losing 3-1 in Kiev three weeks ago, when Bergkamp, Marc Overmars and Nicolas Anelka were all missing, Arsenal came into this game with only one win - at home to Panathinaikos.

On a cold, wet evening in north London, they began their mountain climb with a team dressed in unfamiliar dark-blue shirts, but otherwise eschewing any sense of experimentation. The usual standins were once again called up, Christopher Wreh replacing the injured Bergkamp up front while Remi Garde and Stephen Hughes were drafted into midfield in place of Petit and Vieira.

One wonders what would have happened had the inviting chance which came Arsenal's way after only three minutes fallen to Bergkamp instead of Wreh. Parlour's cross from the right bounced on to the chest of the Liberian, unmarked and dangerously positioned by the penalty spot. Unfortunately his first touch let him down and the chance was squandered.

It did not take long for Lens, a mobile, neat-passing side, to remind the Double winners of their threat on the break. The striker Pascal Nouma shot straight at David Seaman from 12 yards, then set up Vladimir Smicer for a 20-yard shot which the England goalkeeper pushed away with an acrobatic dive.

As the game unfolded so Arsenal's threat on the Lens goal grew more intermittent. They looked worryingly lightweight up front, with attacking possibilities foundering because of the lack of bodies in the opposing box or because promising build-ups were ruined by poor passes and a lack of control.

A whole range of players were to blame - Hughes, Parlour, Anelka and Wreh - and the longer the game went on the more Arsenal looked like a side who had scored only three goals in their previous six games, and have now gone four matches without scoring.

Lens on the other hand continued to pose a threat on the break. Seven minutes into the second half the ever-dangerous Nouma scooped a shot from six yards over the bar, and though Parlour went close from 20 yards Lens had the final word.

On 72 minutes Smicer wriggled his way into the left of the Arsenal area and fired the ball across goal. Debeve tapped in unmarked on the back post, despite Arsenal claims for offside.

Arsenal now visit Panathinaikos in two weeks for their final group game with nothing to play for but much to reflect on, though not, presumably, Wenger's rose-tinted spectacles.

Manchester United are now 7-2 joint favourites with Inter Milan for this season's European Cup.

Arsenal: Seaman, Dixon, Winterburn, Adams (Bould 45), Anelka, Overmars, Wreh (Boa Morte 67), Keown, Parlour, Hughes, Garde (Vivas 67). Subs not used: Manninger, Grimandi, Upson, Mendez. Sent Off: Parlour (90).

Lens: Warmuz, Sikora, Lachor, Magnier, Rool, Debeve, Nyarko, Vairelles, Dehu, Smicer (Moreira 80), Nouma (Eloi 59). Subs Not Used: Marichez, Wagneau, Vivian Foe, Meride, Sankhare, Diop. Sent Off: Vairelles (90). Booked: Rool. Goals: Debeve 72. Att: 73,707.

Referee: Anders Frisk (Sweden).