IT WAS fitting that Arsenal posted victory on the day legendary club servant Ken Friar sadly passed away at the age of 92.
Three second-half goals in seven minutes ended Lille’s resistance, after Jurrien Timber’s 64th-minute opener paved the way for further strikes from Eberechi Eze, and substitute Bukayo Saka, after the Emirates paid a warm pre-match tribute to Mr Friar, who was known as Mr Arsenal following more than 80 years of service in the Gunners cause.
As supporters started to lay a number of flowers and scarves in tribute on his statue in the shadows of the stadium, situated on the aptly named bridge in his honour, boss Mikel Arteta said: “It’s a really sad day for everybody that loves Arsenal, anybody who loves football, and anybody who has come across him. I had the privilege, the honour, to meet him and to spend time with him, to learn from him.”
In another nod to the past, former Gunners striker Olivier Giroud also received a round of applause from all fair-minded home fans, when the 40-year-old appeared as a late substitute for Lille. In a welcome round of entente cordiale, Arsenal centre-back Gabriel was also cheered by the 3,000 visiting supporters, in recognition of his time with the side from northern France.
In the opposite dugout to Arteta was the son of the urbane Italian legend Carlo Ancelotti, head coach Davide, who had led the club to the heady heights of second in the Ligue 1 — with his side noticeably starting with a resolute low block, inviting Arsenal to play their way through them.
Arteta had made five changes to the team that beat Leeds at the weekend, with matchwinner Bruno Guimaraes drafted into the starting XI, along with a rare start for the sadly anonymous Viktor Gyokeres, while Myles Lewis-Skelly switched with first choice Riccardo Calafiori at left-back.
It was Guimaraes who nearly put the home side ahead on 19 minutes, when his close-range effort fizzed the wrong side of Lille keeper Berke Ozer’s left-hand post, after a neat move prompted by the lively Noni Madueke, continuing where he left off after his effervescent display during the victory against Leeds, this time starting on the right flank in place of Saka.
Shortly afterwards Mikel Merino angled his header straight at Ozer after Jurrien Timber’s inviting ball into the box. The World Cup winner, fresh from netting three goals during Spain’s Nations League camp, also launched his 34th minute effort high over the bar, prior to Lewis-Skelly firing at Ozer. Lille’s Turkish keeper then palmed the ball away from Gyokeres path after only parrying Guimaraes shot, as the home side struggled to break down the obdurate visitors.
However, just as the home support had started to fear Arsenal would be foiled, Timber broke the deadlock in the 64th minute with a superb finish, calmly lifting the ball over the onrushing Ozer to make it 1-0. A mere 180 seconds later, Eze made it 2-0, prior to Saka hitting the third in the 71st minute to seal a deserved victory.
One that would surely have made the late Mr Arsenal smile.