Arsenal 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 attacking pressure in Naples.

Mikel Arteta’s side had chances throughout the contest, but David Raya also played a crucial role at the other end as Arsenal emerged from a difficult opening European assignment with all three points.

The opening exchanges were relatively cautious before Arsenal began to threaten, with Eberechi Eze seeing an early effort deflected behind and then winning a dangerous free-kick from which Bukayo Saka tested the Napoli goalkeeper.

Napoli responded quickly. Raya was called into action to deny Kevin De Bruyne in the 15th minute, before making a Politano save moments later as the hosts began finding spaces on the break.

Arsenal continued creating chances. A good move ended with Mikel Merino heading towards the goalkeeper, Eze fired wide and Saka had several opportunities without finding his range.

Piero Hincapie also forced a save with a cross, while Declan Rice sent an effort over.

Raya was required again in the 39th minute to keep out Matteo Politano, before Billy Gilmour was booked for bringing down Eze.

Arsenal registered 13 attempts during the opening 45 minutes but somehow went into half-time still level at 0-0.

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(Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)

The Gunners immediately resumed their pressure after the interval, although Hincapie will probably wonder how he failed to hit the target when the ball fell to him directly in front of goal in the 50th minute.

Merino then produced a tame effort which was comfortably saved.

Arsenal were increasingly dominant in possession, enjoying 74% of the ball during the first 15-minutes of the second half, but Napoli dropped deeper and made themselves extremely difficult to break down while remaining capable of threatening on the counterattack.

Arteta began turning to his bench. Bruno Guimaraes replaced Merino in the 65th minute, while Tzolis was also introduced for Eze before Kai Havertz and Noni Madueke replaced Viktor Gyokeres and Saka in the 73rd minute.

Two minutes later, the breakthrough finally arrived.

Tzolis provided the assist and Odegaard struck in the 75th minute to put Arsenal 1-0 ahead, finally giving the visitors the reward their pressure deserved.

Arsenal could and perhaps should have made the closing stages far more comfortable. A superb Havertz break in the 85th minute presented Madueke with a huge opportunity directly in front of goal, but the winger somehow failed to convert.

Napoli almost punished that miss when De Bruyne sent a dangerous ball across the face of goal in the 89th minute.

There was still late drama when Havertz found the net in stoppage time, only for the flag to go up and deny Arsenal a second.

Not always comfortable and certainly not clinical, but Arsenal have begun their Champions League league-phase campaign with an excellent away victory in one of European football’s more intimidating venues.

What did you make of Arsenal’s performance in Naples? Was Odegaard your Man of the Match again, or does Raya deserve the honours after those crucial first-half saves? Let us know in the comments.

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