Napoli 0-1 Arsenal: Odegaard Back to His Brilliant Best

Odegaard appears effortlessly composed once again, and it is no surprise that Arsenal are displaying the same confidence and fluidity.

Arteta said this was exactly the attitude the team required: players willing to take responsibility, express themselves and continue making bold decisions. He added that Odegaard has recently found himself in dangerous areas more often and described the finish as outstanding.

In Naples, Odegaard did more than secure the result. His relentless effort established the standard for his teammates, underlining both his leadership and his decisive influence.

Onuoha said Arsenal had made an impressive start to the season, with Odegaard playing a major role. He particularly praised the midfielder’s creativity and effectiveness on the right side.

He added that Odegaard protects possession superbly, constantly searches for passes that can unlock opportunities and remains committed to his defensive responsibilities.

While several Arsenal players failed to convert promising openings, Odegaard delivered when the decisive opportunity arrived.

Arsenal’s dominance was reflected in their 26 attempts, their highest total in a single Champions League fixture since records began in 2003-04. Napoli had never faced more shots in a match during the same period.

Arteta highlighted that Martin is now scoring goals that directly shape results, the kind of decisive contribution expected from attacking players. However, he felt Arsenal should have settled the contest differently given the number of opportunities they produced.

European club football’s biggest trophy has continued to evade Arsenal, who were beaten by Barcelona in the 2006 final and by PSG in last season’s showpiece.

Winning the competition remains Arsenal’s ultimate ambition, and their prospects of finally overcoming that obstacle will rise considerably if Odegaard sustains his exceptional form.