Arteta dedicates Arsenal's 3-0 win over Lille to Ken Friar

Mikel Arteta dedicated Arsenal's 3-0 Champions League victory over Lille on Tuesday to Ken Friar, the club's life president who died on Monday aged 92.

Friar served Arsenal for nine decades and was a key figure in the club's move from Highbury to Emirates Stadium. Arteta said he learned of his death shortly before kick-off.

"That's for him," Arteta said after the match. "I'm sure that he has enjoyed the win, the manner that the team played. I know that he was very, very proud about the position of the club right now, the players that we have and the unity and the connection that we have built."

The Arsenal manager described Friar as a rare figure in football. "There are very, very few that are able to translate his aura, his personality, his love for the club, to build an identity, to build a culture, to build values," Arteta said. "His legacy is enormous. He's going to live forever with this football club."

The goals arrived late but in quick succession. Jurrien Timber, Ebere Eze and Bukayo Saka all scored within a six-minute spell to settle the tie, after Arsenal had created chances without reward in the first half.

"It was a big change, especially in the execution and the technical quality of actions in and around the final third," Arteta added. "The moment that technically we increased and we got connected with each other, it was just a joy to watch."

The result moves Arsenal to 15 points from six Champions League games, with the club sitting second in the competition's table.