Martin Odegaard's brilliant second-half finish saw Arsenal open their Champions League campaign with a 1-0 win away to Napoli.


2026/2027 UEFA Champions League

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Match Report

Playing for the first time in Europe since losing on penalties in last season's final against Paris Saint-Germain, Mikel Arteta's side dominated throughout at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Wednesday.

Bukayo Saka and Mikel Merino both passed up glorious first-half opportunities, before in-form Odegaard smashed in the winner with 15 minutes remaining.

Arsenal's control in the early stages was a sign of things to come. Viktor Gyokeres crossed for Saka to acrobatically volley straight at Alex Meret, before David Raya unconvincingly parried away Kevin De Bruyne's long-range drive down the other end.

Napoli were fortunate to not fall behind soon after when Eberechi Eze headed Saka's delivery across for Merino, who was denied at point-blank range by Meret.

Eze dragged wide as Arsenal's grip on proceedings strengthened, while Piero Hincapie's left-sided cross almost caught Meret out at his near post.

Saka then wasted the best opportunity of the first half, blazing over a left-footed finish from near the penalty spot after being slotted in perfectly by Odegaard.

Arsenal's dominance continued after the interval without reward. Hincapie somehow poked over inside the six-yard area following a lovely team move that saw Odegaard scoop for Ben White to head across.

But the Gunners finally found their reward when substitute Christos Tzolis exchanged a neat one-two with Odegaard, who then hammered a left-footed drive from the edge of the area that went in via the post.

Noni Madueke should have put Arsenal out of sight with five minutes remaining, but he was denied by substitute goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic before Tzolis' rebound attempt was blocked on the line.

Kai Havertz then thought he had killed the contest with a tap-in after Milinkovic-Savic spilt Tzolis' effort, though a belated offside flag could not cut short Arsenal's celebrations at the full-time whistle.

Ødegaard #UCL pic.twitter.com/NMtOrDip0s

— UEFA Champions League (@ChampionsLeague) September 9, 2026

Odegaard delivers for Arsenal again

Arsenal had certainly matched pre-season expectations so far, winning the Community Shield and all three Premier League matches before this trip to Naples.

Arteta did make four changes from Sunday's 2-1 comeback victory over Chelsea, but those alterations only further highlighted Arsenal's growing squad depth as they controlled the first half and should have taken the lead.

Indeed, Arsenal's 13 shots across the opening 45 minutes were the most they have ever had in the first half of a Champions League away game on record (since 2003-04).

But they were unable to find a way through, with Saka particularly wasteful – his five first-half shots were worth 0.95 expected goals (xG), in comparison to Napoli's 0.12 as an entire team before half-time.

It seemed a promising showing would go without reward until Odegaard, who scored the winner against Chelsea, delivered once again.

Arteta will feel it was a deserved victory, too, after his side accumulated a massive 4.05 expected goals (xG) to Napoli's meagre 0.22.

But questions remain for Massimiliano Allegri. Napoli rarely ventured forward in this clash, and the pressure may soon heighten after this defeat followed back-to-back Serie A losses against Como and Inter.

Match Events

0' The match is about to start!

8' Eze's shot stopped by defender

13' Highlight from Napoli vs Arsenal

15' De Bruyne's effort from outside the box is parried away by Raya

22' Merino's headed effort is parried away by the keeper

28' Eze's shot wide out

32' Hincapié delivers a cross that drifts dangerously towards the target

35' Rice's shot wide out

39' Saka's effort from beyond the penalty area clears the crossbar

44' Saka's shot from beyond the penalty area sails over the crossbar

50' Hincapié's shot from close range clears the crossbar

62' Rice's shot over the bar

70' Despite a well-worked attacking combination, Arsenal's header clears the crossbar once again

73' Gyökeres off. Havertz on

75' Odegaard breaks the deadlock with a brilliant finish in off the post! Napoli 0-1 Arsenal

80' Guimarães's effort clears the crossbar

82' Guimarães enters the game as a replacement

85' Match Event for Napoli vs Arsenal

Line-ups

Napoli XI: De Bruyne, Di Lorenzo, Lobotka, Politano, Rrahmani, Meret, M.Olivera, Gilmour, Rafa Marín, Højlund, Alisson Santos

Subs: Spinazzola, Nikita Contini, Vanja Milinković-Savić, Neres, Sam Beukema, Badiashile, Lorenzo Lucca, Costantino Favasuli, Antonio Vergara

Arsenal XI: David Raya, Ødegaard, Merino, Rice, Viktor Gyökeres, Ngoyo, Gabriel, Ben White, Eberechi Eze, Saka, Hincapie

Subs: Kepa, Guimaraes, Havertz, Illan Meslier, Martín Zubimendi, Madueke, Calafiori, Christos Tzolis, Lewis-Skelly, Max Dowman, Marli Salmon