Arsenal launched their Champions League campaign with a gritty 1-0 victory over Napoli at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, as Martin Odegaard's 75th-minute strike proved enough to separate the two sides on a tense European night in Naples. The first half was a cagey, tactical affair with both teams struggling to carve out clear opportunities, though the tempo was high and the challenges were fierce. Billy Gilmour was cautioned on 42 minutes for a late tackle on Declan Rice, a moment that encapsulated the physicality of the contest. After the interval, Arsenal gradually asserted control. The breakthrough came on 75 minutes when Odegaard, the Gunners' captain, combined brilliantly with Christos Tzolis before calmly slotting the ball past Alex Meret. Napoli's frustration was evident when Lorenzo Lucca received a yellow card on 85 minutes. The hosts threw bodies forward in the dying minutes, but Arsenal's defence, led by William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes, stood tall. David Raya produced crucial saves to deny Matteo Politano and Giacomo Raspadori, preserving a hard-earned clean sheet. Arsenal registered 14 shots with 6 on target and 52% possession, while Napoli managed 11 attempts with 4 on target. Odegaard was named man of the match for his decisive contribution. With three points, Arsenal top the group stage table. Can Mikel Arteta's men maintain this momentum against PSG next week?
