Arsenal began their new Champions League campaign with the hard-edged away win that Napoli most wanted to avoid, Martin Odegaard’s 75th-minute strike earning a 1-0 result in Naples and leaving the Italian side to reflect on late opportunities that slipped away.
Headline: Odegaard settles Napoli test as Arsenal open Europe with 1-0 win
SEO Title: Napoli 0-1 Arsenal: Odegaard gives Arsenal Champions League away victory
SEO Description: Martin Odegaard struck in the 75th minute as Arsenal defeated Napoli 1-0 in Naples, making a winning start to their Champions League season.
For Arsenal, European runners-up last season, defeat would have been a damaging way to return to the continental stage. Napoli, already unsettled by a difficult opening in Serie A, were equally determined not to begin their home campaign with another setback. The result was a tight, disciplined contest in which neither side gave much away until Odegaard found the one decisive moment.
Possession was shared from the outset, with Napoli looking to place Kevin De Bruyne close to Rasmus Hojlund and exploit Alisson’s pace. Arsenal goalkeeper David Raya had to intervene as early as the fourth minute to stop Hojlund, while Giovanni Di Lorenzo soon had work to do at the other end when Eberechi Eze threatened from the left.
Arsenal grew into the first half. Bukayo Saka turned inside in the 11th minute but sent his effort too close to Alex Meret, before De Bruyne answered with a firm right-footed shot for Napoli. Meret, carrying an adductor problem, nevertheless dealt with Arsenal’s developing combination play, particularly as Eze and Mikel Merino began to establish a greater presence around the home penalty area.
Napoli’s left side came under increasing pressure, with Mathias Olivera appearing to struggle. Just before the interval, Odegaard supplied Saka, but the winger could not properly direct his attempt in front of goal. By then, the home side were beginning to show signs of fatigue.
The pattern scarcely changed after the restart. Ben White found Piero Hincapie in the 50th minute, only for the Arsenal defender to miss from close range. Napoli manager Massimiliano Allegri responded seven minutes later by sending on Favasuli and Vergara, whose arrival added energy and a more direct edge to the hosts. Arsenal substitute Tzolis then fired wide from a central position.
As the game moved through repeated changes of possession, it looked increasingly like two teams who had worked each other out. Arsenal’s breakthrough therefore required an individual intervention. Odegaard delivered it, driving a shot against the inside of the post and into the net to put the visitors ahead.
The goal lifted Arsenal for the closing stretch. Noni Madueke was denied when through against Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, while Tzolis saw another effort blocked by Marin. Napoli pushed urgently for an equaliser but too often forced their final pass. In the 88th minute, Hincapie blocked Neres inside the area, and another promising chance from the centre of the box went unfinished in stoppage time.
Arsenal were not quite able to add a second: Kai Havertz had a last-second finish ruled out for offside. Yet Arteta’s side left Naples with the more important prize, a composed opening-night victory in a tie that Napoli will feel contained enough moments to salvage at least a point.
