Football Bet of the Day: Saka to shine against Lens

Arsenal play host to RC Lens in the Champions League on Wednesday night (20:00) and the Gunners can seal their qualification to the knockout stage with a result here. 

While Mikel Arteta's side have not been completely convincing in the Premier League despite sitting atop of the table, they have been commanding on the European stage. There is one particular market in this contest which we feel is worth backing and have selected as our bet of the day.

Bukayo Saka is one of Arsenal's most important players and he will be vital once again in their quest for the Premier League title, as well as progression in Europe. Saka and his attacking team mates have come under criticism of late due to the Gunners not being as fluid in the league as they were last year, which is most likely down to the loss of Granit Xhaka in the summer.

One thing that Arsenal are doing that they weren't doing last year, however, is that they are managing to get results when they aren't even playing well. Take the weekend win over Brentford, for example. They were not great at all but found a way to get the three points, the sign of would-be champions.

The creator for Kai Havertz's winner was Saka, with a delightful cross to the back post. The England international has not been as prolific as he would like in the Premier League but he is still providing assists for his team. He has two assists in as many games in the league.

He will look to switch things up against Lens in midweek as he seeks to get back on the scoresheet. He has scored twice already in the Champions League this campaign, including last time out against Sevilla. That should serve him well ahead of another European clash at the Emirates Stadium.

Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Martin Odegaard were all remarkable last year as they registered double digits for goals and assists and Arteta will need that if his side are going to go toe-to-toe with their rivals in the quest for Premier League glory.

Lens will provide these attacking stars with an opportunity to try and rediscover their outstanding form from last season as we begin to enter a crucial phase of the season, which tends to separate the weak from the strong. Having not scored for a couple of weeks, we're expecting Saka to be fired up for this one and to get his confidence up in time for a home clash with Wolverhampton Wanderers in the league at the weekend.