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.
Also covering this story
11 other newsrooms covered this event. We read each version separately.
How to watch Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid live: Stream, TV channel, team news, prediction
Champions League contenders PSG, Barcelona, Arsenal, Liverpool all start with wins
Julián Álvarez Will Face Liverpool: Atlético Madrid Makes Decision for the UEFA Champions League
Nicolas Jackson opens his account as Aston Villa survive late scare in Champions League thriller against Club Brugge
Club Brugge vs Aston Villa predictions, 8-1 Bet Builder tip, team news and odds
Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid predictions: 4-1 Bet Builder tip, team news and odds
Napoli 0-1 Arsenal: Martin Odegaard goal clinches win for dominant Gunners in Champions League opener
Arsenal delay forces press conference cancellation for Napoli match
Eight players could miss Liverpool vs Atletico Madrid as Cody Gakpo absent from training
Napoli 0 Arsenal 1: Odegaard rescues wasteful Gunners with stunning strike to give Champions League campaign lift-off
Club Brugge vs Aston Villa lineups, UCL prediction, time, channel, odds
Get smarter about the news
Sign up free for a feed built around what you actually care about, Dive Deeper research on any story, and the full text of every article.
Create free accountAlready have an account? Sign in