Arsenal secured a 3-0 victory over LOSC Lille at Emirates Stadium in the UEFA Champions League league phase on Tuesday, October 13, 2026, extending their winning run in the competition to 14 consecutive matches.
Mikel Arteta watched his side break open a tight European contest with a swift second-half flurry after the opening period ended scoreless against the visiting French club. The breakthrough arrived in the 64th minute when Jurriën Timber beat the Lille defense. Three minutes later, Eberechi Eze doubled the lead before Bukayo Saka capped the scoring in the 71st minute, settling the fixture in a frantic seven-minute span.
Bukayo Saka Climbs Arsenal History Following Victory Over LOSC Lille
The three-goal margin lifted Arsenal to six points from their opening two matches in the expanded European format, cementing an ideal start that began with a 1-0 victory over Napoli last month. For Saka, the night carried historic weight. His strike marked his 14th goal in the tournament, allowing him to surpass Cesc Fàbregas and Fredrik Ljungberg to claim sole possession of fourth place on the club’s all-time European scoring chart.
Thierry Henry remains the club’s continental benchmark with 35 goals, followed by Robin van Persie with 18 and Theo Walcott with 15. Meanwhile, LOSC Lille slumped to their second consecutive defeat of the league phase, leaving them without a point in 23rd place in the standings.
Fourteen Consecutive European Wins Extend Mikel Arteta’s Record Run
The clean sheet against the French side extended Arsenal’s remarkable winning streak in the Champions League league phase to 14 matches. That sequence stretches back across three separate seasons, beginning in November 2024 following a narrow loss to Inter Milan.
During this dominant stretch, the London club has regularly turned back heavyweights, including victories over Bayern Munich, Atlético Madrid, and Inter Milan. The schedule ahead offers little respite, however, as Arteta’s squad prepares to visit Bayern Munich on October 21.
Unprecedented Training Ground Injuries Shadow Squad Preparations
The European success comes amid a baffling casualty list. Speaking before the fixture, Arteta expressed astonishment over ankle injuries sustained by Piero Hincapié and Martín Zubimendi during a supplementary session held after the Premier League win over Leeds United.
I have not seen anything like it in the seven years I have been here. Sometimes a player can get injured in the training session following a match, and that is what happened. We hope it doesn’t happen again, but we cannot do much about it.
Arteta explained that the session was designed to maintain match sharpness for players who missed out on extensive minutes against Leeds. Both Hincapié and Zubimendi were ruled out of the LOSC Lille encounter while awaiting further medical scans to determine the full extent of their layoffs.
Olivier Giroud Returns to Emirates Stadium in LOSC Lille Colors
Tuesday’s fixture also featured an emotional homecoming for Olivier Giroud, now leading the attack for the French visitors.
I wished to play here as soon as we qualified for the Champions League, knowing my former teams Milan and Chelsea would not participate in the tournament, so I wished to return to Emirates Stadium, and I am very lucky to do so.
While Giroud admitted his primary loyalty rested with his current club in their search for points, Arteta warmly praised the Frenchman, describing him as an exceptional player with a distinguished career.
