Saka scores and assists as Arsenal beat Lille 3-0

Arsenal beat Lille 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, October 13, with Jurrien Timber, Eberechi Eze and substitute Bukayo Saka scoring after a goalless first half. Saka supplied the assist for Eze before finding the net himself, helping Arsenal turn a narrow lead into a decisive Champions League victory.

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According to Arseblog's match report, Mikel Arteta made five changes from the team that defeated Leeds, bringing Timber, Bruno Guimaraes, Mikel Merino, Eze and Viktor Gyokeres into the starting side. Arsenal created opportunities before the interval but could not convert them: Guimaraes fired wide from Timber's cutback, while Merino directed a header at the goalkeeper.

Lille also had the ball in the net before half-time, only for Ayase Ueda to be ruled offside. At the other end, Berke Ozer stopped an Eze effort and dealt with a deflected shot from Guimaraes, pushing the ball away with Gyokeres following in. Those chances left the match still level at the break.

Timber eventually opened the scoring after receiving a pass from Noni Madueke and lifting his finish over Ozer. Arteta then introduced Saka, Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz. Arseblog reported that Saka crossed for Eze to add the second, before Odegaard and Havertz combined to create Saka's goal and complete the scoring.

BBC Sport reported that Saka had been affected by illness, with Arteta explaining that he was not ready to start but wanted to contribute if required. The forward's goal took him to four in nine appearances this season. Arteta had challenged him to increase his scoring output and said his positioning had been adjusted to bring him closer to goal. Saka has now scored 19 times for Arsenal in major European competitions, behind only Thierry Henry's 42, according to the BBC.

Arsenal's published fixture schedule lists their next Champions League match away to Bayern Munich on October 21 at the Allianz Arena. Another away game, against Slavia Prague on November 4, follows before their next home league-phase fixture against Borussia Dortmund on November 24.