Arsenal scored three goals in seven second-half minutes to beat Lille 3-0 and continue their winning start in the Champions League.
2026/2027 UEFA Champions League
3-0
Match Report
The Gunners were frustrated for an hour at the Emirates Stadium but Jurrien Timber's superb finish, lifted over the goalkeeper from Noni Madueke's pass, opened the floodgates.
Eberechi Eze added the second with the help of a slight deflection from substitute Bukayo Saka's pass, and Saka added the third himself after slick interplay with Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz, who were introduced alongside him after the opening goal.
Mikel Arteta used the visit of Lille to rotate his side, making five changes from the 2-1 win over Leeds as Arsenal begin a run of eight games in 25 days, but their substitutes helped to ensure they followed up last month's win over Napoli with another victory.
The Gunners should have led earlier with Bruno Guimaraes, starting for the first time at the Emirates Stadium as an Arsenal player, and Eze missing their best chances of the first period.
But Lille's resistance broken with Timber's opener and Davide Ancelotti's side couldn't contain the Gunners, whose substitutions underlined their strength in depth, with Saka particularly impressive before another eye-catching cameo from Max Dowman.
At the other end, Lille did not register a shot on target, although striker Olivier Giroud received a positive reception on his return to the Emirates Stadium as a substitute.
The victory continues a positive start to Arsenal's Champions League campaign as last year's runners-up aim to go one better.
Match Events
0' The match is about to start!
3' Highlight from Arsenal vs Lille
6' Lille counter quickly, shot is blocked
15' Eze breaks through and cuts it back, Guimarães' shot is blocked
16' Raya makes a small mistake
19' Guimarães shoots wide
23' Ueda's goal is ruled out for offside
27' Match Event for Arsenal vs Lille
29' Highlight from Arsenal vs Lille
34' Merino volleys over the bar
37' Eze misses a golden chance
45' Guimarães' long-range shot is saved
53' Giroud warms up on the sideline, fans applaud
60' Guimarães is brought down in the box, no penalty
61' Madueke skies his cross
64' GOAL! Timber elegantly takes it down and beats his man! Arsenal 1-0 Lille (Jurriën Timber)
67' GOAL! Eze extends the lead! Arsenal 2-0 Lille (Eberechi Eze)
71' GOAL! Arsenal 3-0 Lille (Bukayo Saka)
78' Giroud comes on as a substitute, fans applaud
80' Highlight from Arsenal vs Lille
Line-ups
Arsenal XI: David Raya, Merino, Guimaraes, Rice, Viktor Gyökeres, Ngoyo, Gabriel, Eberechi Eze, Madueke, Timber, Lewis-Skelly
Subs: Kepa, Ødegaard, Havertz, Ben White, Illan Meslier, Saka, Calafiori, Cristhian Mosquera, Max Dowman, Marli Salmon, Maalik Hashi
Lille XI: André, Bentaleb, Perraud, Berke Özer, Ayase Ueda, Dilane Bakwa, Alexsandro, Hákon Arnar Haraldsson, Nathan Ngoy, Ngal'ayel Mukau, Maxima Goffi
Subs: Giroud, Calvin Verdonk, Gaëtan Perrin, Osame Sahraoui, Kouassi, Orlando Gill, Maurits Kjærgaard, Basar Önal, Isaac Cossier, Loun Srdanovic, Soriba Diaoune, Thomas Sajous