Arsenal beat Lille 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium to maintain their winning start in the Champions League, scoring three times in a decisive seven-minute spell after the visitors had frustrated them for an hour.
Jurrien Timber broke the deadlock in the 64th minute, lifting a composed finish over goalkeeper Berke Ozer after meeting Noni Madueke’s low cross.
Eberechi Eze then doubled Arsenal’s advantage with a shot that took a slight deflection from Bukayo Saka’s pass, before Saka completed the scoring from close range after Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz combined to create the opening.
Mikel Arteta had made five changes from the side that defeated Leeds 2-1, with Arsenal beginning a run of eight matches in 25 days. The manager’s substitutes made a significant impact, with Saka, Odegaard and Havertz all introduced after Timber’s goal.
Arsenal had chances to take control earlier. Bruno Guimaraes sent a straightforward opportunity wide from Timber’s cut-back, while Mikel Merino headed directly at Ozer from another cross by the full-back.
Eze also saw a first-half effort saved after being played in by Myles Lewis-Skelly. Lille briefly thought they had taken the lead when Ayase Ueda found the net, but the goal was ruled out for offside.
Arsenal’s substitutes change the game
Once Timber had opened the scoring, Lille struggled to contain Arsenal’s increased tempo. Saka was particularly influential, providing the assist for Eze before adding a goal of his own, while Max Dowman also made another eye-catching cameo.
Lille failed to register a shot on target, although former Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud received a warm reception from the Emirates crowd when he came off the bench.
Lille head coach Davide Ancelotti said his side had been unable to match Arsenal’s rhythm after the hour mark.
“It’s really tough. With the players they always have on the bench, they can change the rhythm of the game,” he said.
“For us it was difficult to keep up with the rhythm they put after 60 minutes. We have to keep the good things we did for 55 or 60 minutes.”
Ancelotti added: “To come here and get a good result, you have to have many things aligned and we didn’t have that. It’s too hard on the players, the score. They didn’t deserve this score.”
The result continues Arsenal’s positive Champions League campaign as they seek to improve on last season’s runners-up finish.
