Arsenal are operating at "another level" so far this season, so says Martin Odegaard.

The Gunners beat Napoli 1-0 on Wednesday in their opening Champions League fixture.

That made it four straight wins for Mikel Arteta's team to start off their campaign.

And Odegaard, who netted the winner against Napoli, feels Arsenal are now playing at a different level compared to years gone by.

"I think we feel different. I think we feel a lot stronger this year and I've said it many times," Odegaard told CBS Sports.

"I said it also after the season when we finished second, you got to learn from it. You got to take the experiences.

"And of course it's the same when you win and it's a different experience. It gives you a different kind of confidence. And I can feel that now in the whole team – we play with a different confidence and I feel like we're on another level this season.

"So yeah, I think it made us a lot stronger and I feel like the team is just growing and growing and we're getting better and the hunger is there. So that's great to see after winning that we want to do it again and we want more."

Next up for Arsenal is a trip to Sunderland in the Premier League on Saturday.

The games are coming thick and fast for the Gunners, who then take on Ipswich Town in the EFL Cup before facing Brighton prior to the international break.

Arsenal talisman Declan Rice, who featured in 69 games for club and country last term, is ready for another hectic schedule.

"I think for the last [five] seasons, even since my West Ham days when it was in Europe, I've played 60-plus [games] every season," he said.

"So I think it is sustainable because I've shown that I can do it. It's just about maintaining it, maintaining the level and the consistency of the performances.

"For me, that's the main thing, showing up every week, giving a good account of myself and helping the team win. I've been lucky enough to be able to do that. So I'm really hungry to be able to do that again this season."

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Sunderland - Granit Xhaka

Sunderland enjoyed a remarkable season in 2025-26, qualifying for the Europa League fresh from their promotion from the second tier. 

Xhaka, the former Arsenal midfielder, was pivotal to Sunderland's form, and he leads all the Black Cats' players in the Premier League this term for touches (243), chances created (seven), passes played into the box (26), fouls won (eight) and successful passes (163).

Arsenal - Christos Tzolis

Only Morgan Rogers (nine) has created more chances in open play than Tzolis (eight) in the Premier League this season, with the Greek winger claiming his first assist of the season last time out against Chelsea.

Tzolis followed that up by assisting Odegaard's winner against Napoli.