O Captain! My Captain! Odegaard resolves the stalemate

Real Madrid are the ‘king’ of the Champions League, PSG are the current champions, Barcelona and Bayern are probably the most powerful offensive teams and yet Opta computer gave Arsenal most chances of winning the UEFA’s most popular competition. And the Gunners needed to deliver on the opening day. But it was a tough environment in Napoli, where they played against a team led by the ‘killer’ of the entertainment football – Maximilian Allegri. The experienced Italian set up his team perfectly and got 11 men behind the ball. Arsenal were the better team, they had 20 shots before they scored, they had three excellent chances from which they failed to deliver and yet it was the captain who gave them all three points in a tough game: Napoli – Arsenal 0-1.Before this match, Napoli have lost just two of their last 21 home UEFA Champions League games while Arsenal have only won on one of their last six away trips to face Italian sides in the UEFA Champions League, failing to score in five of those. That changed tonight but only after Martin Odegaard scored from a perfect and precise shot. Arsenal’s captain has a serious dip in form last season, mainly due to knee injury, but started this season perfectly and will keep his place in the starting lineup with ease. He can score when it’s tough, he can pass, his assists are as good as they once were. While Napoli had issues in midfield, with both Scott McTominay and Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa unavailable, Arteta had no such worries, on the contrary. The Spaniard decided to rotate and fielded out Eberechi Eze, Mikel Merino, Piero Hincapie and Viktor Gyokeres, but kept Odegaard in the starting lineup, which proved crucal in a game which was always gonna be decided by one goal. On the other hand, the Swedish striker got his first start this season, but failed to impress. In fact, Arsenal had 20 shots while he was in the game, but none of those shot came from Gyokeres. He created three chances, but that is surely not enough for an Arsenal striker.Martin Ødegaard has now scored four goals in just five appearances across all competitions this season. ⚽️ pic.twitter.com/bZsXIKMgMV— Squawka (@Squawka) September 9, 2026 After Aston Villa, this was the only second game this season in which Arsenal were not able to score quickly, or in the first half at all. The Gunners had no problem of controlling the game and setting up the tempo, but the chances were a few. However, they did have two good ones, and should have scored at least once, but Saka really embarrassed himself. It was the end of the first half when the England international got a perfect ball from Odegaard and found himself in ideal position to score. Instead, he sent the ball near the right bar. Before him, Rice was in good position and unmarked, but unlike so many times, he was not precise and sent the ball over. Apart from Saka, it was Merino who had the best opportunity in the 20th minute, when his shot was destined for goal, but Napoli keeper Meret pushed the effort over the bar. Arsenal's 13 shots were their most on record (since 2003-04) in the first half of a Champions League away game but only two of those were really dangerous.The Italian Job ✅ pic.twitter.com/xs3yiwZRfr— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 9, 2026 Arsenal had a big chance to start the second half, when Odegaard lobed the ball into the box for White, who sent a cross only to see Hincapie missing to score from five meters away. Arsenal applied the pressure, Madueke, Havertz and Guimaraes all came in, but Napoli were defending perfectly. A goal from distance was needed and the Norwegian midfielder saw his chance in the 75th minute. He was given a bit of space and he took a shot from the edge of the box and straight into the goal for the win. Napoli didn’t create anything during the match and couldn’t score and equalizer in the remaining 15 minutes. After all, they didn’t deserve even a point from this game.UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUEROUND 1WednesdayBarcelona – Feyenoord 5-1 (2-0)/Raphinha 3, 57, Aeyemi 22, Yamal 77, Jesus 85 – Steijn 82/Stuttgart – Viking 3-1 (3-1)/Demirovic 20, 26, 32 – Tripic 22/Liverpool – Atl.Madrid 2-1 (1-1)/Szoboszlai 40, Mac Allister 50 – Llorente 17/Napoli – Arsenal 0-1 (0-0)/Odegaard 75/PSG – Slovan B. 6-1 (3-0)/Dembele 17, 23, Torres 31, 47, 57, Ruiz 87 – Camara 58/Sporting – Galatasaray 3-1 (1-1)/Catamo 27, Suarez 57(p), Zalazar 63 – Inacio 5(og)/Thursday19.45: (3.15) Fenerbahce (3.45) Roma (2.25)19.45: (1.43) PSV (4.60) Shakhtar (7.25)22.00: (1.10) Bayern (10.0) Bodo (16.0)22.00: (1.95) Como (3.50) RB Leipzig (3.90) 22.00: (1.10) Man.Utd. (11.0) Sabah (18.0) 22.00: (2.60) Slavia Praha (3.35) Lens (2.70)***odds are subject to change***