Mikel Arteta dedicated Arsenal’s 3-0 Champions League win against Lille to the club’s “extraordinary” life president Ken Friar following his death at the age of 92.
Arsenal’s players wore black armbands on Tuesday night in tribute to Friar, who played a leading role in their move from Highbury to the Emirates Stadium in 2006.
Jurrien Timber, Eberechi Eze and Bukayo Saka all scored in seven second-half minutes as the Gunners recorded their 14th consecutive group stage victory in the Champions League – a winning streak which now extends to almost two years – to take six points from their opening two games in Europe so far.
Before taking any question in his post-match news conference, Arteta said: “Before we start, I would like to say a few words about Ken Friar.
“It is a really sad day for everybody that loves Arsenal Football Club.
“I had the privilege and honour to meet him, spend time with him and learn from him. There are people in football clubs who fulfil a role, and there are other people that create an identity, have values and a vision for the future of the football club, and Ken’s legacy will live on forever.
“I want his relatives and family to know that the way we feel about him can be anything other than extraordinary. I am sure he is very happy to see how the boys played tonight and that victory is for him. I know how proud he is about what we have built.”
Speaking on the eve of Tuesday’s contest, Arteta challenged Saka to score a hat-trick in every game he plays. The England international responded by assisting Eze and then finding the back of the net within five minutes of coming off the bench.
The Spaniard continued: “After the press conference (yesterday), he was on the massage table, and I said to him: ‘Bukayo, I just killed you in the press conference. Good luck tomorrow’.
“He was laughing. He knows me. He takes it because he wants to be the best version of himself.
“He wasn’t feeling that good yesterday, and also today because he had an illness. He wasn’t ready to start, but he really was keen to contribute to the team. He came on and he made a huge impact, and he delivered with real quality.”
Lille frustrated Arsenal for the opening hour before the Gunners’ three-goal blitz.
Head coach Davide Ancelotti, the 37-year-old son of Brazil boss Carlo, said: “In terms of what my players gave, I have no regrets.
“Of course, we need to analyse the fact we conceded three goals in just over five minutes which we are not pleased about. But we knew it would be difficult at this stadium.
“After their first goal, we lost confidence and our shape, and then it all moved very quickly, and the Arsenal substitutions made the difference. The result is harsh on us because we battled hard. I don’t think the players deserved this scoreline.”