Mikel Arteta has warned his side face a ‘huge battle’ when Arsenal play Lens in northern France on Tuesday.

Fresh from routing PSV Eindhoven 4-0 on the opening matchday of our Champions League Group B stage - the club's first match in the tournament for six long years, the Gunners have made the short trip to France to take on last season’s Ligue 1 runners-up.

Desite Lens struggling this term, and currently sit in 15th place, Arteta is expecting a tough encounter at the evocative Stade Bollaert-Delelis.

“I was really impressed with what they did last year,” he said on the eve of the match. “It’s incredible to finish in that position, and the way they did it, the form they had at home. This season they have been really unlucky with some results. I don’t know how they don’t have more points, so we expect a huge battle tomorrow.

“We are more than aware of it. They are a really good side and we have a huge test ahead of us tomorrow.”

The manager is able to welcome back Thomas Partey to his squad, after the midfielder missed the last six games with injury.

“He’s been progressing really well in the last two weeks, and he managed to train the last two or three days with the team. That’s great news for us obviously,” Arteta said.

“He’s progressing and has been very good in the past week. He is a big player and we know what he brings to the team.”

Arteta also gave hope that Bukayo Saka would be involved, after the 22-year-old England international limped out of the emphatic 4-0 win over Bournemouth on the south coast at the weekend. 

“He’s fine, he’s much better,” Arteta underlined. “Obviously he took a big knock but he’s recovered well and he trained today. It’s great if he’s available and we will make that call tomorrow.”

Arteta also hailed WIlliam Saliba whose form has been excellent coming into the clash in his homeland. 

“When you look how he’s developing, his role in the team, the level and consistency he’s shown in the last year or so, it’s remarkable,” Arteta said. “I don’t think you will find a lot of centre backs doing what he’s doing.

“Credit to the players around him as well, the way they are guiding him, protecting him, inspiring him and then with the qualities he has, the presence, the physicality and composure to be a leader in the back line for a big club like us, it’s a huge compliment.”