Ally McCoist described Kai Havertz’s pass to Bukayo Saka as “bordering on genius” on TNT Sports as Arsenal beat Lille 3-0 at the Emirates Stadium on 13 October.
Saka scored the Gunners' third goal in the 71st minute, just six minutes after he and Havertz came off the bench.
How Arsenal Turned a 0-0 Game Against Lille in Seven Minutes
Arsenal went into half-time level, with Mikel Arteta making changes to his starting XI after the Premier League win over Leeds United.
Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz and captain Martin Ødegaard were all left on the bench, while Eberechi Eze, Noni Madueke and Viktor Gyökeres started in attack, with Mikel Merino in midfield.
Lille, managed by Davide Ancelotti, defended well in the first half. Nabil Bentaleb’s deflected shot fell to Ayase Ueda, who beat David Raya, only for VAR to rule out the goal for offside.
Eze and Bruno Guimarães also tested Lille goalkeeper Berke Özer before half-time. Jurriën Timber then put Arsenal ahead in the 64th minute.
Arteta responded with three substitutions a minute later, bringing on Saka for Madueke, Havertz for Gyökeres, and Ødegaard for Merino. Eze doubled Arsenal’s lead in the 67th minute, with Saka setting him up inside the box, before the third came in the 71st minute.
What McCoist Said About Havertz’s Pass for Saka’s Goal
Havertz received the ball on the right side of the penalty area and cut it back for Saka, who finished into the far bottom corner, according to Pain in the Arsenal. McCoist’s praise centred on the quality of Havertz’s pass.
“The ball back again from Havertz is bordering on genius. What a beautiful goal! It’s a cute finish from Saka, but the ball from Havertz is lovely,” McCoist said:
Havertz cut the ball back from the right side of the penalty area for fellow substitute Saka, who finished into the far bottom corner. McCoist called Saka’s finish “cute” but focused his praise on Havertz’s pass.
Saka’s goal was Arsenal’s second in a seven-minute spell that began with Timber’s opener. Report rated Saka 7.5 out of 10, ahead of Havertz and Ødegaard, who each received 7.
What the Result Means for Arsenal and Lille in the Champions League
Arsenal began the match with a 1-0 away win over Napoli on Matchday 1, while Lille had lost 3-2 at home to Real Betis. The 3-0 victory takes Arsenal to six points from two games, leaving Lille still searching for their first point.
Olivier Giroud received a warm reception from the home crowd when he came on for Lille in the 78th minute, replacing Ueda. Arsenal made a change at the same time, with Ben White replacing Timber.
