Arsenal beat Lille 3-0 at the Emirates. For an hour it was hard work. Then three substitutes came on and the game was over within seven minutes.
An hour of not much
Arsenal made five changes from Saturday's 2-1 win over Leeds. Piero Hincapié and Martín Zubimendi were missing after both hurt their ankles in training. Bruno Guimarães, signed from Newcastle in August, made his first start at the Emirates. He had a shot saved by Berke Özer in the first half and a penalty appeal turned down.
"We had to increase the technical level," Mikel Arteta said. "At this level, the teams are really well organised. We gave simple balls away, bad touches, mistimed things."
Seven minutes
Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and Martin Ødegaard came on around the hour. On 64 minutes Noni Madueke found Jurriën Timber, who turned and finished from a tight angle on the right. Madueke then went off for Saka.
Three minutes later Saka set up Eberechi Eze, left footed into the bottom right corner. On 71 minutes Havertz found Saka in the centre of the box and he scored left footed into the bottom left corner.
"The difference on the goal of Jurrien, he ran from the blind side, the ball comes and boom," Arteta said. "The pass is good, the timing is good and the execution from Jurrien is brilliant." UEFA named Timber player of the match.
Lille, no shots on target
Lille had four shots and none on target. According to Opta, that is only the second time they have failed to test the goalkeeper in a Champions League match since 2003-04. Olivier Giroud, 40, came on late and the Emirates stood to applaud him.
"It's really tough," Lille coach Davide Ancelotti said. "With the players they always have on the bench, they can change the rhythm of the game."
The numbers
Saka now has 19 European goals for Arsenal, second only to Thierry Henry. Arsenal have won 14 league-phase games in a row and have six points from two, after beating Napoli 1-0 on the opening night.
Their next Champions League game is away to Bayern Munich on 21 October, where Michael Olise will be suspended.
