Arsenal scored three times in seven second-half minutes to beat Lille 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium, with Jurriën Timber, Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka on target as the Gunners made it two wins from two in the UEFA Champions League league phase.
Match facts
- Result: Arsenal 3-0 Lille (half-time 0-0)
- Competition: UEFA Champions League, League Phase, Matchday 2
- Venue: Emirates Stadium, London
- Scorers: Arsenal - Timber 64', Eze 67', Saka 71'; Lille - None
- Assists: Madueke (64'), Saka (67'), Havertz (71')
- Red cards: None
- Next: Arsenal visit Nottingham Forest on Sunday, then face Bayern Munich on Wednesday 21 October
How the match unfolded
Mikel Arteta made five changes from the 2-1 comeback win over Leeds, with Piero Hincapié and Martín Zubimendi unavailable after ankle injuries sustained in the post-match session. The Champions League preview had flagged that rotation against Davide Ancelotti's side.
The first half stayed goalless. Timber created openings for Bruno Guimarães and Mikel Merino around the 20-minute mark, but neither finished. Lille's best moment came shortly after: Ayase Ueda put the ball in David Raya's net around the 22nd minute after a deflection sequence involving Nabil Bentaleb, only for the flag and a VAR check to confirm offside.
Eze's side-footed effort was comfortable for Berke Özer, and just before the break Guimarães forced the Lille goalkeeper into a save before Özer scrambled the ball away from Viktor Gyökeres.
After the restart Arsenal pinned Lille deep. The breakthrough arrived in the 64th minute. Noni Madueke found Timber inside the box; the defender produced a brilliant touch to create space and lifted the finish over Özer for his first goal of the season.
Arteta then introduced Kai Havertz, Martin Ødegaard and Saka. Within about 90 seconds the lead was doubled. Timber pressed high and won the ball, Ødegaard found Guimarães, and Saka centred for Eze to finish from just inside the area.
On 71 minutes the substitutes combined again. Ødegaard played a one-two with Saka on the edge of the box, found Havertz, and the German's return pass allowed Saka to compose himself and slide into the bottom corner. It was Saka's 19th European goal for Arsenal — only Thierry Henry has more for the club in Europe.
With the contest settled, 40-year-old Olivier Giroud came on for Lille and received a standing ovation on his return to the Emirates. Lille did not register a shot on target, according to Sky Sports.
What the win means
Arsenal sit on two wins from two in the league phase and have now recorded 14 successive victories in Champions League league-phase football. The seven-minute burst underlined squad depth after Arteta rotated for a congested run of fixtures.
Ancelotti told Sky Sports that Arsenal's bench changed the rhythm after the hour mark and that his side could not keep up once the first goal went in. "For us it was difficult to keep up with the rhythm they put after 60 minutes," he said, adding that the scoreline was harsh on his players for the work they had done.
What comes next
Arsenal return to Premier League action at Nottingham Forest on Sunday before travelling to Bayern Munich in the Champions League on Wednesday 21 October. For more Arsenal and Champions League coverage, and verified scam alerts, see the BetAlert database.