Napoli 0 – 1 Arsenal – Match Report & Highlights
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Report as Martin Odegaard’s goal ensures a 1-0 win for Arsenal in their Champions League league phase opener against Napoli; Mikel Arteta’s side dominated but wasted chances through Bukayo Saka, Mikel Merino and others before Odegaard’s winner
Wednesday 9 September 2026 22:17, UK
Martin Odegaard celebrates scoring against Napoli
Martin Odegaard’s superb strike gave Arsenal a deserved 1-0 victory over Napoli in their Champions League opener.
The Gunners should have won by a bigger margin but missed a succession of chances before Odegaard crashed a low shot in off the post from the edge of the box following intricate build-up.
The goal, Odegaard’s fourth in five games this season, ensured a winning start for last season’s runners-up in this competition but wasteful finishing made it harder than it should have been.
Mikel Arteta’s side attempted 26 shots worth a whopping 4.05 expected goals but Mikel Merino and Bukayo Saka spurned their best chances of the first half before Piero Hincapie blazed over from six yards out early in the second.
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Odegaard’s goal, fired in following a quick one-two with substitute Christos Tzolis, finally broke the deadlock but Noni Madueke, another substitute, missed a one-on-one chance with Tzolis’s follow-up blocked on the line, leaving Arsenal to suffer a late scare.
Former Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne appeared well placed to equalise when put through for a rare Napoli chance in the final few minutes, but wasted the chance by opting to cross, ensuring Arsenal could celebrate a victorious start to their European campaign and a fifth straight win of the season in all competitions.
The key moments in Naples
- 22 SAVE! Eberechi Eze heads a Saka cross back across goal but Merino’s header is parried
- 29: SLICE! Arsenal create another great opening but Saka fails to connect properly with his shot in the centre of the box
- 45: MISS! Odegaard plays Saka through on goal but he fires wastefully over the bar
- 50: WASTE! Odegaard lifts the ball over the top to White, whose cross finds Hincapie but the defender somehow blasts over from six yards out
- 75: AT LAST! Arsenal finally score as a slick passing move ends with Odegaard firing a low shot into the corner
- 85 SAVE! Kai Havertz puts Noni Madueke through on the counter but his shot is saved before Tzolis sees his follow-up effort blocked
- 89: SCARE! De Bruyne looks well placed to equalise but chooses to cross instead of shoot and wastes the chance
What the result means and next fixtures…
