Odegaard’s Late Strike Sends Arsenal Past Napoli

Martin Odegaard scored with 15 minutes remaining to give Arsenal a 1-0 Champions League victory over Napoli at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. The Guardian reported that the Arsenal captain’s shot went in off the post after substitute Christos Tzolis combined with Ben White and supplied the final pass. Napoli goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic got fingertips to the effort but could not keep it out.

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Arsenal controlled long stretches without immediately turning their possession into a lead. Mikel Arteta made several changes from the side that had faced Chelsea, handing first starts of the season to Mikel Merino, Eberechi Eze and Viktor Gyokeres. Piero Hincapie also came in at left-back, while four of the other five members of the defensive unit retained their places.

Bukayo Saka produced Arsenal’s first notable threat with an overhead kick that Alex Meret saved. Merino then failed to convert after Eze headed the ball across goal, and White directed another attempt at the Napoli goalkeeper. At the other end, Kevin De Bruyne’s run forced an error from David Raya before the danger was cleared, while Matteo Politano also tested the Arsenal goalkeeper. Saka later shot over following an Odegaard through ball shortly before halftime.

Meret was replaced by Milinkovic-Savic at the interval. Arsenal continued to press after the restart, and Hincapie missed the target at the far post after White headed the ball into his path. Napoli responded by moving to a back five, but the home side were unable to prevent Arsenal from eventually breaking through.

The decisive move involved two Arsenal substitutes. Tzolis exchanged passes with White before setting up Odegaard, whose finish struck the post on its way into the net. Gyokeres had already made way for Kai Havertz shortly before the goal. Havertz later put the ball in the net during stoppage time, but the effort was disallowed for offside.

The result gave Arsenal a winning start away from home in the competition and extended Odegaard’s productive run to four goals in five matches, according to The Guardian. Arteta said the midfielder was reaching scoring positions more often and praised his willingness to take responsibility in decisive moments. Arsenal left Naples with the points after turning territorial control and repeated chances into a narrow victory.