Saka shines as Arsenal cruise to Champions League win over Lille

Key points

• Arsenal beat Lille 3-0 with three goals in seven second-half minutes at the Emirates Stadium.
• Bukayo Saka came off the bench to provide an assist and score in a six-minute span.
• Lille failed to register a single shot on target in the match.

Arsenal scored three goals in seven second-half minutes to beat Lille 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium and continue their winning start in the Champions League. The Gunners were frustrated for an hour before Jurrien Timber's finish from Noni Madueke's pass opened the scoring.

Eberechi Eze added the second from Bukayo Saka's pass, and Saka scored the third after combining with Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz, all introduced after the opening goal. Lille did not register a shot on target.

Saka makes an impact

Mikel Arteta had challenged Saka to start scoring "two or three goals per game" before the match. Saka needed six minutes to find the net after coming on, having provided an assist with his first touch.

Arteta said Saka had not been feeling well, adding that he "was really keen to contribute" and made a huge impact. Saka now has 19 goals in major European competitions for Arsenal, second only to Thierry Henry's 42.

He wasn't feeling that good today and yesterday. He had a bit of an illness but was really keen to contribute.

— Mikel Arteta

What the managers said

Arteta said Arsenal's technical quality improved after a half-time change and called the goals "a joy to watch". He said the triple substitution was the right moment given how the game was developing.

Lille boss Davide Ancelotti said his side could not keep up with Arsenal's rhythm after 60 minutes and that the score was too hard on his players.