Ødegaard strikes late as Arsenal win 1-0 at Napoli

Martin Ødegaard scored the only goal as Arsenal earned a 1-0 Champions League victory away to Napoli on Wednesday. The Guardian reported that the Arsenal captain broke the deadlock 15 minutes from time at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, giving Mikel Arteta’s side a winning start in the competition.

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Arsenal controlled long stretches but could not convert several first-half opportunities. Bukayo Saka had an overhead kick saved by Alex Meret, while Mikel Merino failed to finish after Eberechi Eze headed the ball across goal. Ben White also tested Meret with a shot, and Saka later sent an effort over after Ødegaard played him through.

Napoli threatened on the break during the opening period. Kevin De Bruyne’s run forced an error from David Raya before Arsenal cleared the danger, and Matteo Politano also made the visiting goalkeeper work. The match remained scoreless at halftime despite chances at both ends.

Meret was replaced by Vanja Milinkovic-Savic for the second half. Arsenal continued to press, with Piero Hincapié missing the target at the far post after White headed the ball into his path. Napoli manager Massimiliano Allegri then switched his team to a back five as the hosts tried to resist the visitors’ pressure.

The breakthrough arrived when substitute Christos Tzolis combined with White and supplied Ødegaard. His shot went in off the post despite Milinkovic-Savic getting a touch. Kai Havertz later had a goal ruled out for offside in stoppage time, leaving Ødegaard’s strike as the decisive moment.

The goal was Ødegaard’s fourth in five games, according to The Guardian, after he scored once in all competitions last season. Arteta said after the match that Arsenal need players prepared to decide games and credited his captain’s positioning and confidence in front of goal. The result also continued Arsenal’s recent success at the venue, where they won during their run to the 2019 Europa League semifinals.