Odegaard strikes late to give Arsenal opening Champions League win at Napoli

Arsenal opened their Champions League league phase campaign with a battling 1-0 win over Napoli at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium. Martin Odegaard settled a tight contest with a crisp drive from the edge of the box that clipped the post on its way in. The victory keeps the Gunners' perfect start to the season intact as they look to go one better than last term's runners-up finish.

• Odegaard broke the deadlock with a powerful strike from distance in the 75th minute.
• Arsenal wasted several clear openings before the goal, with Merino, Saka, Hincapie and Madueke all going close.
• Vanja Milinkovic-Savic produced key saves to keep Napoli in the contest.
• The Gunners maintain their 100 per cent record ahead of a trip to Sunderland in the Premier League.

Odegaard delivers when Arsenal need him most

The Norwegian playmaker has looked a different player in recent weeks and delivered the moment that mattered in Naples. After a slick move through midfield, Odegaard gathered the ball in space, shifted it onto his left foot and unleashed a rising shot that beat Milinkovic-Savic before kissing the post on its way into the corner.

It was the kind of decisive intervention Arsenal often lacked during their near-miss campaign last season. This time, with the game drifting towards a stalemate, the captain stepped forward and changed the narrative in a single strike.

Wasted chances leave Arsenal sweating

The scoreline should have been far more comfortable long before Odegaard's intervention. Mikel Merino, Bukayo Saka, Piero Hincapie and Noni Madueke all failed to convert presentable chances during a match in which Arsenal created more than enough to put the game to bed.

The most glaring miss came late on, with the score already at 1-0. Madueke raced through one on one but could not slide the ball past Milinkovic-Savic, who stood tall to deny the winger. The follow-up attempt was also blocked, leaving Arsenal's lead looking narrower than their dominance deserved.

Napoli push late as De Bruyne passes up golden chance

Napoli grew into the game in the closing stages and created the best opportunity of their night with two minutes left. Kevin De Bruyne found himself in space inside the area but chose to square the ball across the face of goal rather than shoot, and the pass rolled harmlessly away with no teammate waiting to convert.

The home side also saw a counter-attack end with a fine save from Milinkovic-Savic down the other end and a disallowed Havertz finish for offside in stoppage time. Four added minutes brought nerves, but Arsenal saw out the contest to claim the three points.

What the win means for Arsenal's Champions League campaign

The new format of the Champions League places a premium on every league phase fixture, and an away win against a side of Napoli's standing is a significant early statement. Arsenal reached last season's final and have made clear they intend to challenge at the same stage again.

More importantly for Arteta, the result reinforces the progress made since the start of the season. The Gunners have won every competitive fixture they have played so far, and Odegaard's form is central to that momentum. His goal in Naples was the clearest sign yet that the team may have found the edge they were missing.

Focus shifts to Sunderland test in the Premier League

Arsenal have little time to dwell on their European success. A demanding Premier League trip to Sunderland awaits on Saturday, and Arteta will need to manage his squad carefully after the efforts in Italy.

The manager may consider rotation, particularly given the quick turnaround from a high-intensity away fixture. What will not be in question is the confidence running through the squad, with Odegaard leading by example and the team finding ways to win even when not at their most ruthless.