Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard continued his impressive start to the 2026/27 season, scoring the decisive goal as the Gunners defeated Napoli 1-0 in their Champions League opener at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Wednesday. Odegaard’s 75th-minute strike secured all three points for Mikel Arteta’s side, despite Arsenal creating numerous opportunities throughout the encounter. The victory marked a strong start to Arsenal’s European campaign, with the north London side registering 26 shots, their highest-ever tally in an away Champions League match.
Odegaard Continues Remarkable Scoring Form
Odegaard has enjoyed a significant turnaround in front of goal this season. The Norwegian midfielder has now scored four goals in five matches, including decisive goals in consecutive games against Chelsea and Napoli. His latest performances represent a major improvement from last season, when he managed just one goal in 36 appearances across all competitions.
Arteta attributed the midfielder’s improved output partly to his availability after missing a significant portion of last season through injury. The Arsenal boss also believes Odegaard is now finding himself in more advanced positions, allowing him to have a greater influence in the final third. Arteta praised his captain’s mentality and willingness to continue taking risks in attacking situations.
Arteta Praises Arsenal’s Performance
Despite Arsenal securing only a narrow victory, Arteta felt the scoreline did not accurately represent his team’s performance. The Gunners dominated large periods of the match and created several chances against the Italian champions. Arteta praised his players for their attacking intent, organisation and ability to execute their game plan in a difficult away environment. He said Arsenal could have won by a much wider margin had they been more clinical in front of goal. The result continues Arsenal’s excellent start to the new campaign, with the club having won all three of their Premier League matches in addition to defeating Manchester City in the Community Shield.
Napoli Suffer Third Straight Defeat
The defeat added to a difficult run for Napoli under new manager Massimiliano Allegri. The Italian side have now lost three consecutive matches in all competitions, following Serie A defeats against Como and Inter before Wednesday’s Champions League setback. Napoli were also dealt injury blows during the encounter, with Scott McTominay and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa among the players affected.
Allegri acknowledged his side’s disappointment but urged his players to remain composed and focus on their next Serie A fixture against Bologna. The Napoli coach said the team must improve defensively and regain confidence after their recent run of defeats.
Arsenal Begin European Campaign With Statement Win
Arsenal’s victory provides an early boost as they seek to make another strong run in the Champions League. Odegaard’s growing influence and the team’s ability to create chances away from home will give Arteta plenty of encouragement as the season progresses. The Gunners will now look to maintain their unbeaten start across competitions while Napoli attempt to recover from their difficult opening stretch.
