Misfiring Arsenal beat Napoli with Odegaard stunner in Champions League
Arsenal secured a 1-0 victory over Napoli in their Champions League opener thanks to a late goal from captain Martin Odegaard. The win continues Arsenal's strong start to the season following their previous Premier League successes.
Why it matters
The result is a key development in the Champions League, reflecting the competitive landscape of top-tier European football.
Arsenal dominated play but needed a screamer from Martin Odegaard to seal three points in Napoli to open league phase.
x whatsapp-stroke copylink google Add Al Jazeera on Google info Arsenal's Martin Odegaard celebrates scoring their first goal [Guglielmo Mangiapane/Reuters] By AFP Published On 9 Sep 2026 9 Sep 2026 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.
Mikel Arteta’s side, who lost to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties in last season’s final, spurned several glorious chances against the well-drilled hosts before Odegaard lashed a shot off the post and in from the edge of the area with 15 minutes to go.
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