Arsenal 3-0 Lille: Second-half surge sees Gunners to Champions League win

Two goals in three second-half minutes kicked Arsenal into life as they eventually cruised to a 3-0 Champions League win over Lille.

The Gunners reached the final last season but were flat and devoid of ideas until midway through the second half.

Jurrien Timber and Eberechi Eze then found the net in quick succession as the Gunners proved far too strong for a disappointing French side.

Not for the first time already this season, Arsenal’s massive strength in depth off the bench proved decisive. with Bukayo Saka helping himself to the third.

Viktor Gyokeres was handed a start in attack as Mikel Arteta rotated his squad, with David Raya moving level with David Seaman for most European Cup/Champions League games played for Arsenal in goal (38).

Lille boss Davide Ancelotti – son of Carlo, who has won the Champions League a record five times as a manager – sent out his side to frustrate the hosts and it worked for a long period against a one-paced Arsenal team.

Their first real attack saw Timber cut a fine ball back but Bruno Guimaraes somehow put it wide from close range.

Mikel Merino mistimed a free header and planted it straight at Berke Ozer before Lille had the ball in the net when Ayase Ueda swept in.

The goal was chalked off for offside, and Arsenal laboured until Ozer reacted brilliantly to claw away a dipping shot from Guimaraes just before the break.

The start to the second half was just as poor but just as Arteta was readying a triple change Timber gave them the lead in style.

He collected Noni Madueke’s pass inside the area, drove away from a defender and then clipped in across goal to score a fabulous opener.

Arteta then did send on Kai Havertz, captain Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka, with Saka instantly finding Eze to drive in the second.

Saka smashed in a third as Arsenal really found their feet, with Havertz getting in behind and cutting back a lovely pass.

Lille forward Olivier Giroud got on to face his former club at the age of 40 and got a hero’s reception but the game was long done.

Arsenal move into fourth place in the early table, while Lille are pointless down in 32nd.

The UEFA Champions League Table

Upcoming fixtures for Arsenal and Lille

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