2026-2027 Champions League: Arsenal vs. Lille, Probable Lineups

Arsenal and Lille face off at 9 p.m. in a match for Matchday 2 of the Champions League group stage. In their opening matches, the Gunners—the reigning English champions—defeated Napoli on the road, while the French side suffered a home loss to Betis Sevilla. Both teams have resumed their respective domestic leagues with a win: Arteta’s side defeated Leeds at the Emirates Stadium, while Davide Ancelotti’s team narrowly beat Le Havre.

Arsenal’s attacking trio consists of Saka, Gyokeres, and Eze. In midfield, Odegaard runs the show with Rice and Merino on either side of him. The fullbacks will be Timber and Calafiori.

Giroud is the focal point of the attack for Lille, which fields Bakwa, Haraldsson, and Sahraoui in the attacking midfield. In the midfield, André partners with Bentaleb.

Arsenal vs. Lille: Probable Lineups
Arsenal (4-3-3): Raya; Timber, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Ødegaard, Merino; Saka, Gyökeres, Eze. Head Coach: Arteta.
Lille (4-2-3-1): Özer; Goffi, Nianzou, Alexsandro, Perraud; André, Bentaleb; Bakwa, Haraldsson, Sahraoui; Giroud. Head Coach: Ancelotti.

On the eve of the match, Lille head coach Davide Ancelotti spoke about Olivier Giroud: “He’s always super motivated and ready to help, whether he starts or comes off the bench. I know this will be a special game for him, against a club he cares deeply about: let’s hope it’s a great night for him, but also for me.”

On how to stop Arsenal: “Every team has played differently against Arsenal; each one tries not to lose its identity. We have ours, and we’ll try to make the best use of our strengths in a challenging situation.”