Arsenal kicked off their Champions League campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory against Napoli, secured by a late, stunning left-foot strike from captain Martin Odegaard. The 27-year-old Norwegian, who struggled with knee and shoulder injuries throughout the previous season, appears to be playing at the peak of his powers as the Gunners look to build upon their recent Premier League title success.
Last season, Odegaard was limited to just 36 appearances across all competitions, managing only one goal and seven assists while featuring in 24 league matches. However, his current form suggests a significant resurgence. Manager Mikel Arteta expressed his satisfaction with the captain’s impact, noting that the team requires players with the mindset to decide matches and take risks. Arteta praised the goal as an incredible moment, emphasizing that Odegaard is consistently finding dangerous positions.
Arsenal’s dominance in Naples was clear, as they registered 26 shots—the highest number the club has recorded in a single Champions League match since data tracking began in the 2003-04 season. Despite this offensive pressure, the visitors faced a stubborn defensive setup from the Serie A side, which utilized a tactical shield reminiscent of veteran coach Max Allegri’s defensive approach. It took until 15 minutes from time for Odegaard to finally break the deadlock.
Former Premier League defender Nedum Onuoha, speaking on Match of the Day, described the midfielder as an “artist” for the entire squad. Onuoha noted that while Arsenal remained competitive last season, the team reaches a different level when Odegaard is pulling the strings. He suggested that the captain is driven by “unfinished business” in the Champions League, aiming to be the first Arsenal leader to lift the trophy after the club’s previous final defeats to Barcelona in 2006 and Paris Saint-Germain last season.
Odegaard’s influence has been evident throughout the early stages of the current campaign. He provided a glimpse of his return to form during the Community Shield victory against Manchester City in Cardiff, where he scored an audacious goal by sitting down goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma before slotting the ball into an empty net. He also found the back of the net in a 3-0 win over Coventry City and scored the winner in a 2-1 comeback victory against Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium.
During the Chelsea match, Odegaard showcased his intelligence by timing a run into the box, stepping over a dummy from Kai Havertz, and firing an emphatic finish past Emiliano Martinez. This level of play, combined with his leadership in Naples, highlights a player who is fully fit and operating within a team brimming with the confidence gained from their recent domestic success.
Arteta acknowledged that while the team’s start to the season has been positive, there is still room for improvement in how they convert their chances. The manager stressed that the goal is for attacking players to remain decisive, as the team prepares for challenging upcoming fixtures, including a home game against Real Madrid and a trip to face Bayern Munich.
For Arsenal, the Champions League remains the ultimate prize. If Odegaard can maintain his current trajectory, the club’s prospects of overcoming the barriers that have previously halted their European ambitions appear significantly brighter. As it stands, the captain is not only settling games but setting the standard for the entire squad through his tireless work rate and creative vision. The report also notes that it seems, with Odegaard in this form, Arsenal can overcome every test to make anything possible for Arteta’s team. The report also notes that losing to England, but has moved on to a different level in the opening phase of this season, he showed signs of a revival as Norway reached the World Cup quarter-final. The report also notes that also scoring the winner as Arsenal came from behind to beat Chelsea 2-1 at Emirates Stadium to maintain their 100% start, he scored in the 3-0 victory against Coventry City. The report also notes that odegaard, as manager Arteta hinted, is almost playing like someone with something to prove, knowing himself that while Arsenal had a season of glory last time out, his personal contribution was not what he expected from himself. The report also notes that but he 100% takes Arsenal to a different level when he is on form and playing like this, you would not back against them winning it based on what we’ve seen them do in this competition in the past two seasons. The report also notes that odegaard caps dominant Arsenal performance. The report also notes that this time around, Odegaard looks smooth as silk â and it is no co-incidence Arsenal look exactly the same. The report also notes that arsenal have obviously looked good at the start of the season and he has been a big reason for that,” added Onuoha.
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