Arteta hoping history doesn't eerily repeat itself as Arsenal eye Champions League revenge

It's been 23 years since the previous meeting between the clubs where the Gunners won 3-1 on aggregate in the UEFA Cup semi-final in the 1999/2000 campaign.

Arsene Wenger's side gained revenge on the Ligue 1 outfit just a season after they stopped them from making it out of their Champions League group.

But it is now Mikel Arteta's squad's turn to exact vengeance on Lens in the European Cup as he looks to avoid history repeating itself.

Arsenal, who played their Champions League matches at Wembley in 1998/99 to boost home attendance figures, failed to beat Lens in their two games.

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Lens equalised in the 90th minute at Stade Bollaert-Delelis to nick a point, before shocking Arsenal at Wembley as they ran out 1-0 winners.

It left Arsenal finishing third in Group E with eight points - behind Dynamo Kyiv and Lens, who boasted a better goal difference.

If that happened this season, it would see Arsenal drop down into Europe's second-tier competition - the Europa League.

Because that wasn't a thing at the time, Arsenal subsequently crashed out of the Champions League at the first hurdle.

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With Arsenal one of the favourites to win the tournament this term, it would be a disaster if they failed to advance into the knockout stages.

It's been a promising start to the season for the north Londoners - picking up 17 points out a possible 21 on offer in the Premier League - winning five and drawing two.

The Gunners started off the campaign by picking up the first piece of silverware on offer in the form of the Community Shield.

It was how Arsenal started the 1998/99 campaign as they looked to mount another title tilt.

Just like this season, Arsenal's top-flight opener came against Nottingham Forest at home.

Incredibly, it was the same result - a 2-1 win for the hosts as Arsenal survived a late scare from the Reds.

In another eerily similar coincidence, Arteta's men will take part in a London derby in the fourth round of the League Cup.

While Arsenal will face West Ham next month, it was Chelsea who they were drawn against 25 years ago, with the Blues emerging as shock 5-0 winners.

Arsenal finished the 1998/99 season as runners-up to Manchester United - a point behind the Red Devils who won the title on the final weekend.

It is another Manchester side that Arsenal are competing with this term, with Pep Guardiola's rampant City side the current table-toppers.

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For Arteta's sake, he will be hoping history does not repeat itself in the Champions League and in the Premier League.