Martin Odegaard continued his excellent start to the season as the Arsenal captain produced the decisive moment in a hard fought 1-0 Champions League win over Napoli in Naples.
Arsenal created enough chances to win comfortably. However, poor finishing kept Napoli in the contest and left Mikel Arteta’s side facing the prospect of a frustrating draw.
The Gunners eventually found their breakthrough through Odegaard. The captain produced a fine finish from outside the box to send Arsenal’s 1,500 travelling supporters into celebration.
It was another important contribution from Odegaard. The goal marked his fourth in five games this season, including the Community Shield.
Arsenal also showed their strength in Europe. They won all eight group phase matches on their way to last season’s Champions League final. Now, they have started this campaign with an impressive away victory in Italy.
Piero Hincapie dropped to his knees at the final whistle before repeatedly thumping the ground with his hands. His reaction reflected the relief across the Arsenal team after a demanding night.
Arsenal Waste Chances Before Odegaard Strikes
Arsenal had several opportunities to punish last season’s Serie A runners up before Odegaard finally broke the deadlock.
Mikel Merino came closest during the first half. The Spain midfielder had a glorious chance to mark his first club start since January, but he headed straight at Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret midway through the opening period.
Bukayo Saka then appeared ready to put Arsenal ahead. Instead, he lifted his effort over the crossbar.
The visitors soon missed another major opportunity. Hincapie found himself inside the six yard area, but he blazed his effort over the bar.
Napoli also threatened at times. David Raya spilled a long range effort from Kevin de Bruyne, the Manchester City midfielder who won the Champions League in 2023.
Arsenal reacted quickly to the danger. Ben White reached the loose ball first and cleared it before Napoli could take advantage.
Despite the missed chances, Arsenal controlled much of the attacking play and finished the match with 26 attempts. That figure represents their highest total in a single Champions League match since the start of last season.
Odegaard also played a major role in Arsenal’s performance. He completed 91 of 105 passes, created two big chances, made 120 touches and recorded five recoveries.
The Arsenal captain’s influence grew as the game progressed. When the visitors needed a moment of quality, Odegaard provided it with a composed finish from outside the box.
The result gives Arsenal an early boost in their Champions League campaign. More importantly, they showed they can manage difficult away games even when their finishing falls below its usual level.
For Odegaard, the night added another goal to an already impressive opening run. His form continues to give Arteta another major attacking threat as Arsenal look to make another deep Champions League run.
