Arsenal have an opportunity to make it two from two in their first Champions League home match of the 2026/27 season.
Home debut
After an extraordinarily long international break, Arsenal will play their first home Champions League match of the season and their first of three matches in the competition over the next month.
Mikel Arteta’s side started their continental campaign on the front foot with an away win over Napoli and have the opportunity to make it from two to two, which could help them rotate their team later on in the league phase.
On the other hand, Lille have had a long time to simmer on a disappointing defeat to Real Betis in their opening Champions League fixture. Another loss would leave the Ligue 1 side swimming against the tide to make the knockout rounds.
Lille have lost all of their last eight away games against English opponents, which doesn’t bode well for their chances against the Premier League champions.
Arsenal’s record in the league phase of the Champions League is remarkably strong. Indeed, the Gunners have lost two out of 31 league phase games and it’s difficult to envisage that record changing on Tuesday.
Key players
Declan Rice was at his imperious best in Arsenal’s weekend win over Leeds United, controlling the match in the centre of the pitch. The England international could be asked to go again on Tuesday.
Riccardo Calafiori was also impressive, scoring the goal that got the Gunners back on level terms. The Italian has become Arsenal’s first choice at left back this season due to the attacking dimension he brings.
Bukayo Saka has still to find top form this season, but remains an important source of creativity and attacking threat down the right side for the Premier League champions.
On-loan Nottingham Forest winger Dilane Bakwa scored the only goal of the game for Lille against Le Havre on Saturday and will pose a threat to the Gunners’ backline.
40-year-old Olivier Giroud could feature against his former club after starting in the win over Le Havre. Alternatively, Davide Ancelotti (son of the Don!) could favour Ayase Ueda as a striker more likely to expose space in behind the opposition backline.
Team news
Arsenal’s injury situation for Saturday’s match against Leeds wasn’t as severe as feared with Rice, Max Dowman, Ezri Konsa and Kai Havertz all passed fit to feature despite withdrawing from international duty.
Christos Tzolis and William Saliba are still sidelined for the time being with Piero Hincapié also unavailable for the Gunners. Bruno Guimarães, Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyökeres could be in line for a start as rotational options.
Ethan Mbappé’s red card against Real Betis means he will miss Tuesday’s match in North London through suspension. Defender Tiago Santos was also stretched off against Le Havre in Lille’s last outing.
Striker Hamza Igamane is a long-term absentee with an ACL injury while left back Romain Perraud is another doubt. Ancelotti has a number of injury concerns to contend with.
Prediction
We don’t expect the French visitors to improve on their poor record against English opposition: Arsenal 2-0 Lille.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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