Arsenal secured a 1-0 victory over Napoli on Wednesday at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, with captain Martin Odegaard scoring the decisive goal in the 75th minute. The result marked a strong start for the English club in their 2026-27 UEFA Champions League campaign as they built on an already impressive domestic run.
Odegaard’s strike, a powerful shot from the edge of the area that rattled the post before going in, continued his remarkable form this season. The Norwegian midfielder has scored four goals in five games, a significant improvement compared to his single goal in 36 appearances last season. Manager Mikel Arteta praised Odegaard’s increased availability and confidence, crediting his evolving role and relationships on the pitch. “He’s got different relationships around him as well. That helps,” Arteta said. “Now he can start to occupy some different heights in the team, especially in the attacking phase.”
Despite the crucial goal, Arteta described Arsenal’s overall performance as falling short of their potential. The team set a club record for away shots in the Champions League with 26 attempts but struggled to convert chances for much of the match. “The scoreline has to reflect a very different result,” Arteta remarked. “If we were a bit more precise, it would have been much bigger.” Nonetheless, he commended the squad’s resilience and tactical clarity in breaking down Napoli’s defensive structure.
Napoli, under new coach Massimiliano Allegri, faced difficulties compounded by injuries to key midfielders Scott McTominay and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa. Allegri reshuffled his midfield, including the inclusion of Kevin De Bruyne and Billy Gilmour, but the hosts were unable to capitalize on their limited opportunities. De Bruyne, who has frequently troubled Arsenal in past encounters, created some threatening moments but was unable to breach the visitors’ defense. Allegri acknowledged the disappointment of a third consecutive defeat in all competitions but emphasized the need to regroup ahead of their next Serie A fixture. “We need to stay calm and collected,” he said, highlighting defensive lapses and the physical toll evident in the second half.
Arsenal’s approach involved multiple changes from their recent Premier League win over Chelsea, with four players—Piero Hincapie, Mikel Merino, Eberechi Eze, and Viktor Gyokeres—making their first starts of the season. The London club controlled much of the game, though finishing remained a challenge, with several chances going awry or blocked by the Napoli defense. The visitors’ squad had also endured travel disruptions ahead of the match, arriving late due to flight delays, but managed to produce a disciplined and ultimately rewarding performance.
Looking ahead, Arsenal will host Lille in their next Champions League fixture on October 13, while Napoli will travel to Villarreal on the same day as both sides aim to bounce back and solidify their positions early in the group stage.