LATEST INJURY UPDATE : Arsenal injury news as four miss Wolves after Bukayo Saka and Fabio Vieira blow

Arsenal injury news as the Gunners make light work of the Champions League group stages and Mikel Arteta learns his lesson with Bukayo Saka

Bukayo Saka celebrates scoring for Arsenal against RC Lens in the Champions League

Bukayo Saka was taken off after being fouled consistently against Lens (Image: John Walton/PA Wire)

Arsenal progressed to the knockout stages of the Champions League before a ball was even kicked on Wednesday night but still gave their supporters a treat regardless. The Gunners hit Lens for six, more than making up for the shock 2-1 defeat in the reverse fixture, sealing top spot in the process.

The result means that Mikel Arteta's men not only effectively have a free pass in the final round of European games, an away tie against PSV Eindhoven inbetween tricky Premier League matches with Aston Villa and Brighton, but also that they don't have to worry about the competition again until March.

In what has been a brilliant week for the club, going back to the top of table with a late winner and watching both Manchester City and Liverpool drop points domestically, this only adds to the sense of good feeling. Arsenal were able to make changes at half-time as well as rest some key players before welcoming Wolves on Saturday.

Arteta was already without Thomas Partey and Emile Smith Rowe in midfield with the New Year looking like the most likely return date for the pair. "It is a possibility [that Partey plays in January]," Arteta said before the game. "Emile has already been on the pitch doing some jogging.

"He’s a quick healer, Thomas the same. We need them to be back at their best." Fabio Vieira also missed the game having not trained on Tuesday with a groin issue. "Yeah we’ve got a problem with him," Arteta admitted. "He’s been having some discomfort.

"We sent him to see a specialist and the advice was to have an operation in his groin. He did that yesterday. We don’t expect him back this side of the winter break."

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It leaves the midfield lacking in options as Kai Havertz once more started in a deeper role, playing as an attacking No.8 alongside Martin Odegaard with Declan Rice anchoring the team. Jorginho came from the bench late on and scored the final goal from the spot.

In defence, Arteta used his subs throughout, taking off Takehiro Tomiyasu and Oleksandr Zinchenko at half-time with Ben White back on the pitch after a short run out at Brentford and Jakub Kiwior also getting some action. Arteta also took the chance to rest Bukayo Saka for half-an-hour.

The winger scored the second goal of the night, not one of his best after a parried shot hit him and dribbled in, and was taken off in place of Reiss Nelson. Saka had once again been kicked and fouled consistently, at one time going down and staying on the grass for a while.

It is perhaps a surprise that the 22-year-old wasn't removed quicker given his importance and the state of the game. Speaking afterwards he looked fine and was even angry at the call to be taken off. "Not really [happy to be substituted]," he told TNT Sports.