Arsenal cruise to Champions League win over Lille

Arsenal score three quick-fire goals to beat Lille 3-0 in the league phase of the Champions League; Jurrien Timber and Eberechi Eze scored their first goals of the season; Bukayo Saka was also on target six minutes after coming off the bench

Arsenal scored three goals in seven second-half minutes to beat Lille 3-0 and continue their winning start in the Champions League.

The Gunners were frustrated for an hour at the Emirates Stadium but Jurrien Timber's superb finish, lifted over the goalkeeper from Noni Madueke's pass, opened the floodgates.

Eberechi Eze added the second with the help of a slight deflection from substitute Bukayo Saka's pass, and Saka added the third himself after slick interplay with Martin Odegaard and Kai Havertz, who were introduced alongside him after the opening goal.

Mikel Arteta used the visit of Lille to rotate his side, making five changes from the 2-1 win over Leeds as Arsenal begin a run of eight games in 25 days, but their substitutes helped to ensure they followed up last month's win over Napoli with another victory.

The Gunners should have led earlier with Bruno Guimaraes, starting for the first time at the Emirates Stadium as an Arsenal player, and Eze missing their best chances of the first period.

But Lille's resistance broken with Timber's opener and Davide Ancelotti's side couldn't contain the Gunners, whose substitutions underlined their strength in depth, with Saka particularly impressive before another eye-catching cameo from Max Dowman.

At the other end, Lille did not register a shot on target, although striker Olivier Giroud received a positive reception on his return to the Emirates Stadium as a substitute.

The victory continues a positive start to Arsenal's Champions League campaign as last year's runners-up aim to go one better.

Reading on Sky Sports Scores? The Sky Sports app is better than ever - tap to find out why...