Arsenal 3-0 Lille: Timber, Saka & Eze score in second-half to seal 3 points

Arsenal scored three goals in seven second-half minutes to beat Lille 3-0 and continue their winning start in the Champions League.

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