Syndicated reporting provided by Stats Perform and reviewed by the SoccerNews editorial team.
Mikel Arteta insists Arsenal’s squad must earn their opportunities to play after they swept aside Lille 3-0 in the Champions League.
Arsenal were frustrated for large parts of the first half on Tuesday at the Emirates Stadium, but produced a dominant second period to ease to victory.
Jurrien Timber scored the first of Arsenal’s three goals in seven second-half minutes, with substitute Bukayo Saka then setting up Eberechi Eze before scoring a goal of his own soon after.
Arteta made five changes for this European encounter after the 2-1 win over Leeds United in the Premier League, reminding his players to take their opportunities when they come.
“The minutes are given because they deserve them. Everyone has to earn it because we can see competition and options and that will only benefit our performances,” he told TNT Sports.
This was the third time Arsenal won a Champions League match by 3+ goals, having been goalless at half-time, with all three coming under Arteta.
Clear chances were hard to come by for Arsenal in the first half, while Lille’s Ayase Ueda also had a goal ruled out for offside in a brief scare for David Raya.
League stage perfection https://t.co/BGJpIjMWFF
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) October 13, 2026
“We had to increase the technical level, teams are really well-organised at this level,” Arteta said of the first-half performance.
“We gave simple things away; bad touches, mistimed things, when we sent balls into the box, it was into the wrong areas, and we got caught.
“Once we did that better, we started to play in the opposition box, and with the quality we have, they made a difference.”
Arsenal have now won their last 14 Champions League group stage/league phase games, keeping nine clean sheets in this run.
Their next clash in the competition sees them travel to Bayern Munich, who will be without Michael Olise after his sending-off in their unexpected 3-3 draw with Viking.
First, Arteta will turn his attention to Sunday’s trip to Nottingham Forest as Arsenal look to make ground on early Premier League leaders Manchester City.
“It’s difficult in the Champions League, Lille are a brilliant team,” Arteta concluded. “But winning helps; the energy will be good when we start to prepare for the Sunday game.”
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