Lens 1-1 Arsenal: Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain levels in French draw

Arsenal came back to draw 1-1 in their opening game of pre-season as Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain's late goal ensured stalemate in their friendly at Lens.

In a re-run of the UEFA Cup semi-final tie between the clubs in 2000 - a two-legged affair which Arsenal won 3-1 on aggregate - Mathias Autret's first-half effort put the hosts ahead.

He capitalised on the rebound after Calum Chambers' slack header allowed Abdellah Zoubir to dart forward and shoot shortly before the break.

But just as it seemed they were tiring, Arsenal came back to ensure they returned to London undefeated when Oxlade-Chamberlain dinked in a lovely chip from the right.

They now continue their warm-up campaign with two friendlies in America against an MLS All-Stars team and Mexican club Chivas de Guadalajara, with the first game coming next Friday.

Arsenal started with a relatively experienced first XI despite being without the likes of Mesut Ozil, Olivier Giroud, Laurent Koscielny, Petr Cech, Aaron Ramsey, Alexis Sanchez and Santi Cazorla.

Indeed, they had an early chance at the Stade Bollaert-Delelis - the venue for England's 2-1 Euro 2016 win over Wales -  through Chuba Akpom.

But the youngster, back at the club after last season's loan at Hull, produced a weak finish and it was easily smothered before Zoubir shot just over at the other end.

Autret was also lively and he outpaced Per Mertesacker only to shoot wide, while Jeff Reine-Adelaide responded for the visitors with a curled effort which flashed just wide against his old side.

Mohamed Elneny fired wildly over the bar as play swung from end to end, with Dusan Cvetinovic nodding wide in reply before Lens went in front.

The goal was a poor one for Chambers, whose header fell straight at Zoubir's feet and although Emiliano Martinez palmed his shot away, the rebound was turned into an open goal by Autret.

Arsenal made six changes at the break and with a weaker team out against a side which starts its league campaign in just one week, they were the poorer side in the second period.

Nevertheless, they made chances and Theo Walcott had the ball in the net following a sublime pass from Joel Campbell only to be flagged offside for moving fractionally early.

Substitute goalkeeper Matt Macey made an impressive save when Benjamin Bourigeaud fired a volley goalwards and that was key as Arsenal soon drew level.

Oxlade-Chamberlain had already teed up Walcott for a chance which ran narrowly wide when he made it 1-1 nine minutes from the end.

Campbell played on to Serge Gnabry and he helped the ball on to the former Southampton youngster, who chipped goalkeeper Nicolas Douchez with great accuracy.

That gave the Premier League runners-up a share of the spoils and Arsene Wenger will have been satisfied with that given the determined manner of his team's comeback.