Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit has warned his former side over a ‘really dangerous’ Lens striker ahead of their Champions League match on Wednesday.
Petit highlighted Lens forward Elye Wahi as the leading threat ahead of the group stage match at the Emirates.
The 20-year-old forward starred in the first match between the sides in October, as Lens came from behind to secure a 2-1 home win against Mikel Arteta’s side.
Wahi provided an assist for Adrien Thomasson’s equaliser on the night, before scoring the winner for the home team.
Petit believes Lens are are capable of springing another surprise at the Emirates, with the Ligue 1 side again looking for Wahi to deliver against Arsenal.
Former Arsenal star Emmanuel Petit has warned Arsenal about a dangerous Lens’ striker
Petit has highlighted the threat of Elye Wahi, centre, ahead of their Champions League match
Wahi scored the winning goal when Lens earned a surprise 2-1 win against Arsenal in October
‘Lens had a great result at the weekend, beating Clermont Foot 0-3. They are starting to show the signs of the team that surprised so many people in France last season,’ Petit told Lord Ping.
‘If you listen to the Lens players, they all know how difficult it will be to come to London, but they have a chance to spring a surprise on Arsenal.
‘They can play without pressure because nobody expects them to get anything from the match.
‘Arsenal are very difficult to beat at home, but if they can play with the same spirit as they did in the opening group game, they can cause Arsenal problems.
‘In football, if you have a chance, you have to take it.
‘Elye Wahi, the Lens striker, he scored at the weekend, and he is a really dangerous player.
‘He is an individual that Arsenal will have to keep an eye on because he has the quality to hurt them.’
Mikel Arteta’s side will qualify for the knock-out stages should they earn a point against Lens
The 20-year-old forward has had a slow start to the season, scoring just twice in 11 Ligue 1 matches.
Despite scoring in the win over Clermont Foot, Wahi was sent off in first half stoppage time after receiving two yellow cards within the space of a minute.
The French under-21 international had earned a summer move to Lens after an impressive campaign at Montpellier, where he scored 19 goals in 33 matches.
Arsenal will qualify for the Champions League knock-out stages with a game to spare should they earn a point against Lens on Wednesday.