Arsenal 3-0 Lille: Champions League report by Layth Yousif
It was fitting Arsenal posted victory on the day that the legendary club servant Ken Friar sadly passed away at the age of 92.
Three second half goals in seven minutes ended Lille’s resistance after Jurrien Timber’s 64th minute paved the way for further strikes from Eberechi Eze, and Bukayo Saka, after the Emirates paid a warm pre-match tribute to Mr Friar, who was known as Mr Arsenal following more than 80 years of service in the Gunners cause. Supporters also laid a number of scarves on his statue in the shadows of the stadium, situated on the aptly-named bridge in his honour.
In another nod to the past, former Gunners striker Olivier Giroud also received a round of applause from all fair-minded home fans, when the 40-year-old appeared as a late substitute for Lille. In a welcome round of entente cordiale, Arsenal centre-back Gabriel was cheered by the 3,000 visiting supporters, in recognition of his time with the side from northern France.
Speaking after the match, Arteta said:
In the opposite dugout to Arteta was the son of the urbane Italian legend Carlo Ancelotti, head coach Davide who led the club to the heady heights of second in the Ligue 1 – with his side noticeably starting with a resolute low block, inviting Arsenal to play their way through them.
Arteta had made five changes to the team that beat Leeds at the weekend, with matchwinner Bruno Guimaraes drafted into the starting XI, while Eberechi Eze also made the line-up, along with a rare start for Viktor Gyokeres. Myles Lewis-Skelly switched with Saturday’s first choice Riccardo Calafiori at left-back.
It was Guimaraes who nearly put the home side ahead on 19 minutes, when his close range effort fizzed the wrong side of Lille keeper Berke Ozer’s left-hand post, after a neat move prompted by the lively Noni Maduke, continuing where he left off after his effervescent display during the victory against Leeds.
Shortly afterwards Mikel Merino angled his header straight at Ozer after Jurrien Timber’s inviting ball into the box. The World Cup winner also launched his 34th minute effort high over the bar, prior to Lewis-Skelly firing at Ozer. The Lille keeper then palming the ball after from Gyokeres path after only parrying Guimaraes shot, as the home side struggled to break down the obdurate visitors, as we headed into the break goalless.
Midway through the second half, just as the home support had started to fear Arsenal would be foiled, Timber broke the deadlock, with a superb finish, calmly lifting the ball over the onrushing Ozer to make it 1-0 to Arsenal in the 64th minute.
A mere 180 seconds later, Arsenal made it 2-0, when Eze made it 2-0, prior to Saka hitting the third in the 71st minute to seal a deserved victory. One that would have made the late Mr Arsenal smile.
