Arsenal came painfully close to winning their first Champions League title last season, and Mikel Arteta will be hoping his side can go one better this time around.
The Gunners reached the final before losing to Paris Saint-Germain, but they’ve wasted little time getting back to business in Europe.
A 1-0 victory away to Napoli got their latest campaign off to a winning start, with Martin Ødegaard scoring the only goal.
Arsenal also head into Tuesday’s meeting with Lille following a 2-1 comeback victory over Leeds United at the weekend.
Things haven’t been quite so straightforward for their French opponents.
Lille surrendered two leads in a 3-2 home defeat to Real Betis on matchday one, although they’ve responded with some encouraging results domestically.
Davide Ancelotti’s side sit second in Ligue 1, just a point behind Monaco, and arrive in London having beaten Le Havre 1-0 on Saturday.
However, their record against English opposition makes for rather grim reading.
Lille have lost their last eight away matches against English clubs, and facing an Arsenal side that has won 13 consecutive Champions League league-phase matches isn’t exactly the easiest way to end that run.
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What are the best betting tips for Arsenal vs Lille?
Arsenal to win to nil
There’s plenty to like about Arsenal’s chances on Tuesday, particularly given their defensive record in Europe.
The Gunners have kept 18 clean sheets in their last 24 European home matches.
They’ve also won 15 of their last 16 Champions League home fixtures in the group or league phase, drawing the other.
That’s a remarkable level of consistency.
Their opening victory over Napoli was another example of how difficult they can be to break down.
Arsenal restricted the Italian side while creating enough chances to have won much more comfortably than the 1-0 scoreline suggested.
Lille have enjoyed a decent start domestically, but their Champions League opener against Betis exposed some defensive weaknesses.
The French side also have a miserable recent record against English clubs, which hardly inspires confidence ahead of a trip to the Emirates.
Backing Arsenal simply to win won’t offer much value.
However, combining the home victory with a clean sheet makes the selection considerably more appealing.
Under 3.5 total goals
Arsenal have been winning matches without necessarily blowing opponents away.
Their Champions League opener against Napoli finished 1-0, while Saturday’s victory over Leeds ended 2-1.
Arteta’s side have enough attacking quality to put several goals past Lille, but there’s little reason to expect them to approach this recklessly.
They’ve become particularly good at controlling matches once they get themselves in front.
Lille aren’t exactly arriving in free-scoring form, either.
Nine of their last 12 competitive matches have produced fewer than three goals.
Their 1-0 victory over Le Havre at the weekend was another relatively tight affair.
Ancelotti will also know that allowing Arsenal too much space could turn this into a very uncomfortable evening.
I suspect Lille will spend plenty of time defending and attempt to frustrate the hosts.
Arsenal should have enough quality to break them down, but I’m not expecting a particularly high-scoring contest.
Under 3.5 goals looks a sensible alternative to backing a comfortable home victory.
Martin Ødegaard to score or assist
If Arsenal are going to find a way through Lille’s defence, Martin Ødegaard looks one of their most likely sources of inspiration.
The Norwegian has been in excellent form recently and scored the winner against Napoli in Arsenal’s opening Champions League match.
It was another reminder that he’s capable of making the difference in important moments.
Ødegaard is also central to Arsenal’s attacking play, regularly finding space between the lines and creating opportunities for the players around him.
Lille will probably try to keep things compact, but that could actually make the Arsenal captain even more important.
His ability to pick out a pass or arrive late around the penalty area gives the Gunners another way of breaking down stubborn opponents.
There’s also a decent chance Arsenal will dominate possession, which should give Ødegaard plenty of opportunities to influence proceedings.
Rather than relying on him to score himself, the goal-or-assist market offers a little more flexibility.
With Arsenal expected to create the better chances, I like his chances of being involved in at least one goal.
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Where can I watch Arsenal vs Lille?
Arsenal vs Lille kicks off at 8pm BST on Tuesday, October 13, at the Emirates Stadium.
The match will be shown live on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate. Supporters can also stream the action through HBO Max.
What is Arsenal’s predicted team?
(4-2-3-1): Raya; White, Konsa, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Merino; Saka, Ødegaard, Eze; Gyökeres.
Injured: William Saliba, Christos Tzolis.
Doubts: Piero Hincapié, Martín Zubimendi, Cristhian Mosquera.
Suspended: None.
Arteta has another defensive headache after Hincapié suffered an ankle injury during the warm-down following Saturday’s victory over Leeds.
The Ecuadorian had played just eight minutes after replacing Riccardo Calafiori, but needed assistance leaving the pitch.
Saliba remains unavailable with a back injury, while Tzolis is expected to miss the remainder of October.
Calafiori should therefore return at left-back, with Konsa partnering Gabriel in central defence.
What is Lille’s predicted team?
(4-2-3-1): Özer; Santos, Ngoy, Alexsandro, Perraud; André, Bentaleb; Bakwa, Haraldsson, Perrin; Ueda.
Injured: Hamza Igamane.
Doubts: Ethan Mbappé.
Suspended: None confirmed.
Lille have fewer injury concerns than their opponents, although Mbappé remains doubtful with an ankle problem.
Igamane is also unavailable as he continues recovering from a serious knee injury.
Ancelotti is expected to retain much of the side that defeated Le Havre at the weekend, with Haraldsson providing the creativity behind Ueda.
Arsenal vs Lille prediction
I think Arsenal will have far too much for Lille on Tuesday night.
Arteta’s side have been excellent in the Champions League league phase, and their home record makes them particularly difficult to oppose.
Lille deserve credit for their start to the Ligue 1 season, but facing Arsenal at the Emirates is a considerably tougher proposition.
Their defeat to Real Betis also demonstrated that they’re vulnerable when opponents apply sustained pressure.
Arsenal have enough attacking quality to take advantage, even with several players unavailable through injury.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Lille make things awkward for a while, particularly if they defend deep and frustrate the hosts.
However, the Gunners should eventually find a way through.
I’m expecting a relatively comfortable home victory, with Arsenal maintaining their perfect start to the competition.
Score prediction: Arsenal 2-0 Lille
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