Arsenal maintained their impressive momentum with a convincing 3-0 Champions League victory over Lille at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night.
The final score suggested a routine evening, although Lille made Mikel Arteta’s side work hard before the contest suddenly opened up after the break.
Arsenal controlled the ball for long periods but lacked their usual sharpness during a goalless first half.
Bruno Guimarães sent a good opportunity wide, Mikel Merino directed a header at Berke Ozer and Eberechi Eze was denied after being picked out inside the area.
Lille briefly thought they had punished those misses when Ayase Ueda found the net, but the striker was ruled offside.
The breakthrough eventually arrived in the 64th, when Noni Madueke found Jurrien Timber, whose excellent first touch allowed him to lift a clever finish beyond Ozer.
|
Arsenal 3-0 Lille |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Total |
Arsenal |
Lille |
|
Possession |
58.1% |
41.9% |
|
Shots |
16 |
4 |
|
Shots on target |
8 |
0 |
|
Shots blocked |
5 |
3 |
|
Big chances missed |
2 |
0 |
|
Corners |
7 |
0 |
|
Passes |
542 |
404 |
|
Pass accuracy |
90% |
84.9% |
|
Fouls |
13 |
9 |
|
Offsides |
4 |
3 |
|
Yellow cards |
2 |
1 |
|
Red cards |
0 |
0 |
That goal changed the mood completely.
Bukayo Saka, Martin Ødegaard and Kai Havertz were then introduced together, and the visitors could no longer cope with Arsenal’s sharpness.
Saka created Eze’s goal almost immediately before adding the third himself from Havertz’s delivery, with three goals in seven minutes turning a frustrating contest into another comfortable European win, while Lille finished without recording a shot on target.
Arsenal have now won their opening two Champions League games this season and extended their remarkable winning run in the group or league phase to 14 matches.
Attention will soon return to domestic matters, but work is also continuing behind the scenes ahead of future transfer windows.
Arsenal make Tomas Aranda approach
According to El Intransigente, Arsenal have made an approach over Boca Juniors ‘breakout star’ Tomas Aranda, who is also attracting attention from Chelsea and Napoli.
While it is described as still being the monitoring stage, their move indicates that the 19-year-old is firmly on the club’s radar as they assess another exciting South American talent.
Aranda is primarily an attacking midfielder, although he can also operate from the left. The right-footed playmaker is under contract with Boca until December 2029, placing the Argentine giants in a strong negotiating position.
His deal reportedly includes a release clause worth around £15m, but that figure is said to increase to around £19m, depending on when the clause is activated.
Boca would reportedly prefer to keep Aranda for their 2027 campaign, meaning one of his admirers may have to trigger that clause to force a deal.
The teenager is currently recovering from a fractured right fibula and is not expected to play again this year, but that setback has not stopped his reputation from spreading well beyond Argentina.
Lionel Messi recently selected Aranda as one of ten outstanding young talents for an Adidas campaign, with the eight-time Ballon d’Or winner describing his compatriot as a star in the making.
Arsenal youngster Max Dowman was also included in Messi’s selection, giving the Gunners another reason to pay attention to his verdict.
Aranda has already trained alongside Messi and made his senior Argentina debut this year.
Arsenal’s contact appears to be early groundwork, but the teenager may be a name to watch heading into 2027.
