Arsenal resume their Champions League campaign with a home clash against French outfit Lille on Tuesday evening.
Both teams began the group stage in contrasting fashion. Arsenal sealed a narrow 1-0 victory against Napoli, while Lille suffered a 3-2 defeat to Real Betis, despite leading 1-0 and 2-1 during the game.
The two clubs won their previous matches entering this tie, setting up what could an exciting game.
Arsenal demonstrated fighting qualities last time out
Mikel Arteta was not a happy man after the last match before the international break as his side suffered a 3-0 thrashing against Brighton. Against Leeds at the weekend, it looked as though déjà vu had struck as the Yorkshire outfit took the lead with just 35 minutes remaining in the contest.
This was a key moment in the Premier League title race, despite it only being matchday 6. If Arsenal lost a second successive league game, Manchester City would hold the momentum.
In the end, quickfire goals from Riccardo Calafiori and Bruno Guimarães saw the Gunners a reprieve, but for large stretches of the game, Leeds were the better team. Nevertheless, this result could do wonders, showing Arsenal can dig themselves out of a hole when needed and now attention turns towards the Champions League.
As beaten finalists last season, the Gunners will be aiming to go one step further this term and a win against Lille will strengthen their position in the group stage. This will be the first competitive meeting against Lille, and this will be the tenth different French side Arsenal will have played in continental competition.
Lille have enjoyed a solid start to the season
Lille won two of their first three Ligue 1 matches of the campaign, with a 2-2 draw against PSG sandwiching those victories. Defeats to Real Betis and Nice since then have halted momentum, but the club currently sit second in the table, a solitary point behind AS Monaco.
Remarkably, this is only Davide Ancelotti’s second ever permanent managerial job and it looks as though he is settling in well at Lille. Summer signing Ayase Ueda has been the star of the show. The Japanese striker, who cost just €15m ($16.7m), has scored three goals across just five games thus far.
One of those goals came in his previous Champions League tie against Betis. Ancelotti’s men are a well-drilled side who should cause Arsenal plenty of problems at the Emirates on Tuesday evening. Can he inspire Lille to seal a positive result against the North Londoners?
Team news
William Saliba and Christos Tzolis will continue to be absent from the squad due to long term injuries, although Arteta was boosted by the return of Declan Rice, Max Dowman, Ezri Konsa and Kai Havertz against Leeds. Piero Hincapié looks certain to miss out having suffered an injury in the warm down following the win over Leeds.
Ancelotti will be missing Tiago Santos, as he was stretched off with an injury at the weekend. Ethan Mbappé is suspended while Romain Perraud is a doubt for this clash.
Prediction
This won’t be as straightforward as many Arsenal fans will make it out to me. Lille are riding high in Ligue 1 and they should have taken at least a point against Betis last time out in this competition.
Home advantage will be vital for the Gunners, who are looking to continue their unbeaten run in this tournament. Arteta’s men haven’t suffered defeat in the Champions League since May 2025.
As such, Arsenal will be favourites by a wide margin, but I reckon things could be rather right in North London. Arsenal 2 – 1 Lille.
