Kenya
Champions League · Match report
Seven minutes, three goals: Saka's super-sub cameo sinks Lille as Arsenal stay perfect
Goalless at half-time, Arsenal scored three times between the 64th and 71st minutes. Saka came off the bench to score one and set up another.
By FootieRadar Desk · Published · 3 min read
For an hour at the Emirates, Lille did exactly what they came to do. Then Arsenal scored three goals in seven minutes, and the game was over. The 3–0 win keeps Mikel Arteta's side on a perfect six points from two Champions League matches.
Arsenal–Lille, and the Champions League table that followed, were among the most searched football topics in Kenya over the last two days.
How the seven minutes unfolded
- 64' — GOAL: Jurriën Timber breaks the deadlock from Noni Madueke's assist. 1–0.
- 65' — Arteta makes a triple change: Martin Ødegaard, Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka come on for Mikel Merino, Viktor Gyökeres and Madueke.
- 67' — GOAL: Eberechi Eze, set up by Saka two minutes after he came on. 2–0.
- 71' — GOAL: Saka scores himself, from a Havertz pass. 3–0.
Two of the three substitutes were directly involved in the goals within six minutes of arriving. Saka played only 25 minutes and finished with a goal, an assist and a rating of 7.9. Timber, who scored the opener before going off on 78 minutes, was rated the best player on the pitch at 8.5, ahead of Eze at 8.2.
Lille never got going
Davide Ancelotti's side did not have a single shot on target all night. They managed four attempts in total, worth just 0.30 expected goals, and won no corners. Without Berke Özer's five saves, the scoreline could have been heavier. Olivier Giroud came off the bench with 12 minutes left, but by then the contest was already settled.
| Arsenal | Lille | |
|---|---|---|
| 58% | Possession | 42% |
| 16 | Shots | 4 |
| 8 | Shots on target | 0 |
| 1.70 | Expected goals (xG) | 0.30 |
| 7 | Corners | 0 |
| 0 | Saves | 5 |
| 2 | Yellow cards | 1 |
Who was missing
Arsenal won comfortably without William Saliba (back), Piero Hincapié (ankle), Martín Zubimendi (knock) and Christos Tzolis (hamstring), with Ezri Konsa partnering Gabriel in central defence. Lille were without Hamza Igamane and Tiago Santos, both out with knee injuries, and Ethan Mbappé, who was suspended after a red card.
Merino (29') and Havertz (90+2') were booked for Arsenal, and Lille picked up one booking late on.
The table and what's next
Two wins from two put Arsenal level on six points with Barcelona, Liverpool and Sporting CP at the top of the league phase at the time of writing. Lille are still waiting for their first point.
Arsenal return to the Premier League away at Nottingham Forest on Sunday, 18 October, with kick-off at 6:30pm Kenya time.
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