Arsenal vs Lille Preview: Team News & Prediction | 2026-27 UEFA Champions League | League Phase
by Alex Lawes ·
After a fine start to the campaign, Arsenal get back to action in the UEFA Champions League with the visit of Lille to the Emirates Stadium.
Kick-off date/time:
How to watch on TV & online: UK – TNT Sports & HBO Max / USA – Paramount+
Arsenal preview: Back on the winning track
Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal headed into the international break on the back of a 3-0 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion at the AMEX Stadium, ending what had been a seven-match winning streak across all competitions to begin their campaign.
The Gunners did get themselves another victory, though, at the weekend, as they came from behind to defeat Leeds United by two goals to one at the Emirates with strikes from Riccardo Calafiori and Bruno Guimaraes.
Lille preview: Strong Lille
Having taken a chance with the appointment of Davide Ancelotti over the summer, Lille have started the season well with four victories and a draw in their opening seven matches across all competitions after edging past Le Havre the other day.
In the UEFA Champions League, though, they succumbed to a 3-2 defeat to Real Betis at Stade Pierre-Mauroy in Northern France last month in a game in which they twice took the lead against the Andalusians.
Arsenal team news: Possible rotation
It could well be that Mikel Arteta opts for some rotation here with Eberechi Eze and Bruno Guimaraes pushing for starts. William Saliba is back on grass but remains unavailable with Christos Tzolis also sidelined due to a thigh injury.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Raya; White, Konsa, Gabriel, Hincapie; Rice, Guimaraes; Saka, Odegaard, Eze; Havertz
Unavailable: Saliba (Fitness), Tzolis (Injured)
Questionable:
Lille team news: Mbappe suspended
After throwing an elbow at Real Betis’ Natan the other week, Ethan Mbappe, the brother of Kylian, is now missing through suspension for Lille with former Southampton left-back Romain Perraud a fresh injury doubt for the visitors here.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Ozer; Srdanovic, Ngoy, Alexsandro, Onal; Andre, Bentaleb; Bakwa, Haraldsson, Perrin; Ueda
Unavailable: Santos (Injured), Mbappe (Suspended), Igamane (Injured)
Questionable: Perraud (Injured)
Arsenal vs Lille prediction
Arsenal were not great at the weekend but Leeds have made themselves an extremely difficult team to beat and score against – and so the North Londoners eventually getting themselves over the line was testament to their character as well as quality. Lille head across the English Channel looking relatively good but their last four games have seen them squeeze past poor teams Troyes and Le Havre while losing that game to Betis as well as a poor Nice side. Arsenal should eventually get another win here but it may not be a thriller for the neutral.
Arsenal vs Lille Tip: Arsenal to win & under 3.5 goals
