North London welcomes a familiar face on Tuesday as Arsenal continue their Champions League league-phase campaign against Lille, with Olivier Giroud returning to the Emirates in the colours of the French side.
Mikel Arteta’s English champions, beaten finalists in Europe last season, meet a Lille team sitting second in Ligue 1 under Davide Ancelotti. The visit offers an early continental test for Arsenal, while the French club arrive carrying a major injury setback.
Arsenal’s European night and Lille’s blow
- Arsenal host Lille in the second round of the Champions League league phase on Tuesday.
- Lille confirmed on Monday that right-back Tiago Santos has suffered a complete anterior cruciate ligament rupture as well as meniscus damage.
- The defender is expected to be unavailable for at least nine months.
- Davide Ancelotti’s side travel to England after a 1-0 Ligue 1 win over Le Havre, a result which left them one point behind leaders Monaco.
- Lille will also be without Ethan Mbappé, who is suspended.
Arteta spoke warmly of the challenge posed by Ancelotti, whose work in northern France has lifted Lille into contention near the top of the domestic table.
“We want to earn the right to play another final,” Arteta said. “We are facing a difficult opponent. What Davide Ancelotti has done so far has been remarkable.”
Giroud returns to the Emirates
Giroud’s trip to Arsenal comes at the age of 40 and may be among his final visits as a player, with the former France striker indicating that he expects to retire when the season ends.
He spent six years with Arsenal, from 2012 to 2018, and remains a popular figure among supporters after his time in the capital. His return gives the fixture a personal thread beyond the Champions League points at stake.
Fresh ankle injuries for Arsenal
Arsenal will be without Martín Zubimendi and Piero Hincapié after both sustained ankle injuries during the short post-match training session following Saturday’s 2-1 win over Leeds.
That session involved players who had either featured only briefly or not played at all. Hincapié came on in the 82nd minute against Leeds, while Zubimendi remained on the bench.
Arteta acknowledged the difficulty of balancing recovery with the need to keep squad players sharp.
“If they do not train, they do not get injured, but then when they play they have no rhythm,” he said. “If I had a crystal ball, I would tell them to go to the jacuzzi and see us tomorrow. It does not work like that.”
