Who else but Martin Odegaard could have sparked Arsenal’s win?
Arsenal should have celebrated a larger margin; they mustered 26 shots, the most they’ve recorded in a Champions League game since 2003‑04.
How impressive Odegaard was
Napoli set up an impenetrable barrier, stacking two, perhaps three, walls inside their own box, daring Arsenal to carve a path.
Odegaard isn’t a brute‑force player. He read the situation, slipped a delicate left‑foot pass that drifted over the defence like a leaf, finding Ben White’s head before Hincapie’s errant finish spoiled the moment.
That was a classic Odegaard flash – the Norwegian seemed to have extra time, spotting passes others missed, including a gentle lay‑off to Saka. Much of Arsenal’s flow stemmed from his vision.
Only a few games in, and the Odegaard factor feels revived. His winning strike lifted the mood just as frustration threatened to take hold, suggesting his recent struggles are finally fading. For my money, Odegaard is the catalyst Arsenal need.
Arteta and the Gunners will relish seeing him in such rhythm; anyone watching can’t help but notice.
Jack Lang
Arsenal’s shooting woes
Arsenal generated plenty of chances in Naples but fell into a hesitant, anti‑ruthless mindset, perhaps a side‑effect of off‑loading three seasoned forwards, including last season’s top European scorer.
Switching from the in‑form Kai Havertz to a striker uneasy under Viktor Gyökeres’ pressure seemed to unsettle them, and a delayed arrival may have thrown off their timing, leaving the attack lacking crispness.
Better opportunities went begging, notably Merino’s close‑range header that glanced past the keeper and Saka’s shanked swipe.
In the second half Hincapie added a lofted effort over the bar, and Arsenal had already chalked up 17 chances by the hour‑long break – roughly a shot every three to four minutes.
What stood out was their relentless probing, patient build‑up and eventual breakthrough; the finish was a brilliant strike from this season’s most expressive player.
Odegaard’s golden spell continued, earning every ounce of praise.
Amy Lawrence
Arteta’s rotation strategy
Anyone tracking Arteta knows he constantly balances squad minutes with the hunger to win.
He introduced four changes to the starting eleven, delivering a solid, experienced line‑up that still relied on substitutes to unlock the game.
Guimaraes, Tzolis and Havertz injected technical spark, with Tzolis adding another assist for Odegaard, hinting at a growing partnership.
The Napoli trip kicks off a run of four away fixtures in eleven days before the international break, followed by Sunderland, then an EFL Cup tie at Ipswich, and finally Brighton in the league.
Managing squad fitness is key; Rice played the full match, while Saka and White, players who shouldn’t be over‑taxed, were pulled off late.
We can expect a similar lineup for Sunderland, with potentially larger rotations for the Ipswich clash.
Overall, opening the Champions League with an away win, resting Calafiori, partially benching Havertz and Tzolis, and giving Guimaraes a cameo – it could have been worse.
Amy Lawrence
Arteta’s comments
Arteta told TNT Sports the margin should have been much larger, even though he called his side superb.
When asked what pleased him most, he cited the overall performance – the competition, attitude, courage and quality displayed, lamenting the missed big chances.
He added that the team should have finished differently given the volume of chances created.
Arteta later said Odegaard’s target is goals every week, every game.
He stressed the importance of his availability, noting last season’s injury woes, and praised his renewed confidence and relationships that should elevate his attacking impact.
Arsenal’s next steps include a tough Sunderland test; can they maintain momentum and turn chances into goals?
Saturday, September 12: Sunderland (Away), Premier League, 8pm BST, 3pm ET