Match Report: Arsenal Rally To Register Comfortable Win Over Lille

Arsenal made it two wins from two in the Champions League this evening, as they overcame a tough start to comfortably beat Ligue 1 side LOSC Lille 3-0 under the lights at the Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners were hoping to avoid a repeat of the first half from the 2-1 victory over Leeds United, but worryingly for Arteta, it was almost a carbon copy.

The opening exchanges were extremely cautious from both sides. Much like Leeds United, Lille were quick to drop into a mid-block out of possession and were looking to hit Arsenal on the break when the opportunity presented itself.

Arteta’s men enjoyed most of the ball in the first half, but there was a clear lack of creativity going forward once again. In fact, the visitors looked like they were more likely to get an opener. Davide Ancelotti’s men did in fact put the ball in the back of the net in the first half, but the linesman, albeit delayed, raised his flag. After a quick VAR review, the decision was confirmed.

Arsenal did start to grow into the half, and could have taken the lead when Madueke’s cut-back found Bruno Guimarães, who could only fire wide after a first-time effort. Mikel Merino also squandered a gilt-edged chance, when he fired a header straight at goalkeeper Özer, having been found relatively free in the box.

Arsenal managed to sting the hands of the visitors’ keeper one last time, when Guimarães’ swerving effort was well parried by the Turkish shot-stopper to send the sides into the break level.

HALF TIME: Arsenal 0 LOSC Lille 0

Into the second half and whatever Arteta said at the break looked to have worked. The Gunners came out of the traps with intent in the second half. There was more of a zip to their play. They were playing with more purpose and speed, pinning Lille deep in their own half.

Arsenal remained patient and eventually found their opener when Madueke slid a ball through to Timber, who, after a sensational turn, found the finish to match, dinking the ball over Özer to give Arsenal a deserved lead on the balance of play.

Lille continued to give the ball away in dangerous areas and Arsenal, with their tails up, looked to capitalise. Arteta made a triple substitution not long after the opening goal, with Saka, Havertz and Ødegaard entering the fray, and the impact from the three was immediate.

Ødegaard won a challenge high up the pitch, finding Saka on the right-hand side, and with one of his first touches since being introduced, he swept a ball across the box which found Eze, who managed to, with the aid of a slight deflection, find the back of the net with a first-time finish to double Arsenal’s lead.

Arteta’s men continued to suffocate Lille, who could just not find a way out through Arsenal, who were now in the mood to find a third. It came very shortly after through Saka, who, after a lovely slide-rule pass from Havertz, found the net with a beautiful curling left-footed finish. Three goals in the space of seven minutes and Arsenal were well and truly out of sight.

Arsenal managed to see out the rest of the game with absolute ease, with David Raya remaining untested. There was also time for a quick cameo from 16-year-old Max Dowman.

FULL TIME: Arsenal 3 LOSC Lille 0 (Timber 64', Eze 67' & Saka 71')

The hosts, in the end, made light work of their French opposition tonight, and have now made it a record-breaking 14 matches without defeat in the Champions League league phase.

Attention will now turn back to the Premier League, with Arsenal travelling to Nottingham Forest on Sunday looking to continue the momentum of two well-earned victories at Emirates Stadium.