Saka scores and sets up a goal as Arsenal beat Lille 3-0 in Champions League

Bukayo Saka came off the bench to both score and provide an assist as Arsenal defeated Lille 3-0 in their Champions League match on 13 October 2026. The England forward had been challenged by manager Mikel Arteta to increase his goalscoring output and responded with a decisive contribution despite feeling unwell.

Arteta had publicly urged Saka to aim for higher scoring figures, even suggesting he should target "two or three" goals per game, and said this season the winger’s positioning had been adjusted "to get him closer to the goal." Saka, 25, has scored four goals in nine games this season and has endured questions about his pace and the attention of opposing defenders after injury issues over the last two seasons. Arteta also warned that "the more volume we generate, the bigger the probability of him scoring more goals," while insisting the positional tweak was deliberate: "That is where we need to get him."

Saka entered after his side had taken the lead and played a direct part in the second and third goals, assisting Eberechi Eze’s strike that made it 2-0 before slotting in a confident one-touch finish for the third. He had been unwell beforehand but came on to "make a huge impact and delivered with real quality," Arteta said: "I don't know if that's the case, but I am very happy. "He wasn't feeling that good yesterday and today, as he had some sort of illness. He wasn't ready to start but he was really wanting to contribute to the team if it was needed and he came on and made a huge impact and delivered with real quality." The goal followed a missed late one-on-one chance in Saturday's Premier League win over Leeds.

Arteta praised Saka’s positioning and chance creation, saying: "He has been getting in great positions, getting shots, getting one-touch finishes and tap-ins. That is the kind of unpredictability we have with that player, otherwise we know how the opponent is going to defend him. He is doing well, he could have had another four or five goals by now, easily. But if he continues like that, we know. "When he talks about scoring a certain amount of goals, he needs to be thinking about scoring a certain amount of goals per game. If that shifts, that mentality, he will get into those positions and score more goals." Arteta also recalled joking with Saka after his pre-match comments: "After the press conference... I said 'Bukayo, I just killed you in the press conference, good luck tomorrow'. "He was laughing. He knows that we have discussed these kind of things and he takes it because he wants to be the best version of himself. "In order to do that, you have to put big objectives and challenges and try to reason by working and being consistent - and when it doesn't work, keep going because he has the ability to do it."

Saka’s recent form for England was noted in the report: he scored five goals in his last four matches for his country, including a double in the 7-0 Nations League win over Croatia, and he has scored 20 goals in a season once in his career, during the 2023-24 campaign when he scored 16 in the Premier League. At club level he now has 19 goals in major European competitions for Arsenal, behind Thierry Henry on 42, and his nine Champions League assists place him behind Henry (16) and Cesc Fabregas (14).

Arteta made five changes to the side that started against Leeds as he managed a busy schedule, bringing Noni Madueke in on the right wing after his weekend performance on the left, and selecting Mikel Merino, Eze and Viktor Gyokeres in the starting XI. Eze, who had started only two games in all competitions before the Lille match, scored his first goal of the season and Arteta had described his attitude as "phenomenal." Madueke provided the assist for Jurrien Timber's opening goal.

Viktor Gyokeres struggled for influence, registering just 12 touches before being replaced, while Kai Havertz provided a stronger attacking link off the bench and supplied the pass for Saka’s goal. Arteta introduced Saka, Havertz and Martin Odegaard after going 1-0 up and said all three players "contributed to show why they are still the first names on the teamsheet."

Arteta highlighted squad management as a factor in his selection choices, noting he had made five changes because the Gunners were "looking to navigate six matches in all competitions during this month."