Martin Ødegaard scores as Arsenal defeats Napoli in Champions League opener
10 sources • 3 min read • Latest: Sep 9, 2026, 9:54 PM
Last updated Sep 9, 2026
Martin Ødegaard secured a 1-0 win for Arsenal against Napoli in their UEFA Champions League league phase opener on Wednesday at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. The Arsenal captain converted a shot from the edge of the box in the 75th minute after a patient build-up. Mikel Arteta's side dominated possession and recorded 26 shots throughout the match but struggled with finishing, as Bukayo Saka, Mikel Merino, and Piero Hincapie missed several opportunities. Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret was substituted at halftime due to injury, with Vanja Milinkovic-Savic taking his place. The result marks the third consecutive loss for Massimiliano Allegri’s Napoli side. Arsenal continues its season with a Premier League match against Sunderland this Saturday, while their next Champions League fixture is against Lille on October 13.
- •Martin Ødegaard scored the winning goal in the 75th minute.
- •Arsenal attempted 26 shots with an expected goals value of 4.05.
- •Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret left the match at halftime with an injury.
- •Arsenal faces Sunderland on Saturday in their next Premier League match.
- •Napoli travels to Villarreal for their next Champions League fixture on October 13.
- 10:03 PMESPN Soccer — Ødegaard nets late winner as Arsenal beat Napoli
- 9:34 PMBBC Sport — Odegaard strike earns Arsenal narrow victory at Napoli
- 9:30 PMYahoo Sports — Arsenal Conquer Naples as Odegaard Seals Champions League Victory
- 9:24 PMYahoo Sports — Arsenal find the missing piece and may finally be ready to win the Champions League
- 9:15 PMYahoo Sports — Odegaard gives Arsenal winning Champions League start at Napoli
- 9:10 PMYahoo Sports — Odegaard goal gets Arsenal off to winning start in Champions League
- 9:02 PMThe Guardian Sport — Ødegaard stuns Napoli as Arsenal make winning start in Champions League
"After their record-breaking feats last year in the Champions League, Arsenal are at it again. But having been delayed along with hundreds of travelling supporters by travel chaos on Tuesday, Mikel Arteta’s side had to bide their time against Napoli until Martin Ødegaard continued his rich vein of goalscoring to start the new campaign with the crucial strike. Perhaps it was the fact they were forced to wear red shorts for the first time since a Premier League game against Watford in 2022 due to Uefa’s insistence that Arsenal were not quite at their flowing best here. Yet they were deserved winners in the end and the substitute, Noni Madueke, should have made the victory more comprehensive in the dying moments as Napoli chased the game. Having come so close to breaking their duck in this competition last year after becoming the first team to win all eight of their group stage matches, Arsenal look equipped to go all the way again if Ødegaard can keep up this sparkling form. Continue reading...
"Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard's sensational late strike broke stern Napoli resistance as the English champions began their bid for Champions League glory with a hard-fought 1-0 win in Naples on Wednesday.It continued a perfect start to the campaign for Arsenal, who began their Premier League title defence with three wins in a row before condemning Massimiliano Allegri's team to a third consecutive defeat.
"Martin Odegaard scored the only goal as Arsenal began their Champions League campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Napoli.The Arsenal captain struck with 15 minutes remaining at the Stadio Dieg...
Sources
External links- ESPN SoccerSep 9, 2026, 10:03 PMØdegaard nets late winner as Arsenal beat Napoli
Martin Ødegaard's fine second-half goal saw Arsenal kick off their Champions League campaign with a 1-0 win at Napoli on Wednesday.
- BBC SportSep 9, 2026, 9:34 PMOdegaard strike earns Arsenal narrow victory at Napoli
Martin Odegaard's excellent start to the season continues as the Arsenal captain scores the only goal of the match against Napoli in Naples.
- Yahoo SportsSep 9, 2026, 9:30 PMArsenal Conquer Naples as Odegaard Seals Champions League Victory
Arsenal began their latest Champions League campaign with a hard-earned 1-0 victory over Napoli, with Martin Odegaard’s second-half goal finally rewarding the Gunners for a night of sustained attack...
- Yahoo SportsSep 9, 2026, 9:24 PMArsenal find the missing piece and may finally be ready to win the Champions League
Napoli 0-1 Arsenal: Mikel Arteta’s side spurned a huge number of chances in Naples but Martin Odegaard came through to kick off their Champions League campaign with a win
- Yahoo SportsSep 9, 2026, 9:15 PMOdegaard gives Arsenal winning Champions League start at Napoli
Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard's sensational late strike broke stern Napoli resistance as the English champions began their bid for Champions League glory with a hard-fought 1-0 win in Naples on Wednesday.It continued a perfect start to the campaign for Arsenal, who began their Premier League title defence with three wins in a row before condemning Massimiliano Allegri's team to a third consecutive defeat.
- Yahoo SportsSep 9, 2026, 9:10 PMOdegaard goal gets Arsenal off to winning start in Champions League
Martin Odegaard scored the only goal as Arsenal began their Champions League campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Napoli.The Arsenal captain struck with 15 minutes remaining at the Stadio Dieg...
- The Guardian SportSep 9, 2026, 9:02 PMØdegaard stuns Napoli as Arsenal make winning start in Champions League
After their record-breaking feats last year in the Champions League, Arsenal are at it again. But having been delayed along with hundreds of travelling supporters by travel chaos on Tuesday, Mikel Arteta’s side had to bide their time against Napoli until Martin Ødegaard continued his rich vein of goalscoring to start the new campaign with the crucial strike. Perhaps it was the fact they were forced to wear red shorts for the first time since a Premier League game against Watford in 2022 due to Uefa’s insistence that Arsenal were not quite at their flowing best here. Yet they were deserved winners in the end and the substitute, Noni Madueke, should have made the victory more comprehensive in the dying moments as Napoli chased the game. Having come so close to breaking their duck in this competition last year after becoming the first team to win all eight of their group stage matches, Arsenal look equipped to go all the way again if Ødegaard can keep up this sparkling form. Continue reading...
- Sky Sports—Odegaard gives dominant Arsenal win over Napoli
Martin Odegaard's superb strike gave Arsenal a deserved 1-0 victory over Napoli in their Champions League opener.
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