Fit-again Ødegaard orchestrates Arsenal's win over Napoli in Champions League
Arsenal's Martin Odegaard celebrates after scoring the opening goal during their Champions League soccer match between Napoli and Arsenal, in Naples, southern Italy, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. Credit: AP/Gregorio Borgia
NAPLES, Italy — Arsenal's perfect start to the season continued in the Champions League on Wednesday thanks to Martin Ødegaard’s sudden rush of goals.
Ødegaard struck with a powerful left-foot shot in the 75th minute to secure a 1-0 win at Napoli that should have been more decisive.
“I didn’t even see it go in," Ødegaard acknowledged, adding that with Napoli defending deep “at some point it made sense to shoot from outside the box.”
The fit-again captain now has four goals in Arsenal’s first five games of the campaign — including the Community Shield — having scored just once in all of last season.
Ødegaard was often not fully fit despite playing in parts of 36 games as Arsenal won a first Premier League title in 22 years and missed out on a first Champions League title only in a penalty shootout to Paris Saint-Germain after a 1-1 draw. He lasted just 66 minutes of that final in Budapest.
The difference a healthy and fully influential Ødegaard can make was clear from a complete performance in Naples by the 27-year-old Norwegian.
On Wednesday, he looked like the World Cup version of himself. As Norway captain he provided four assists in a run to the quarterfinals in July, and banged the drum in memorable post-game celebrations leading fans in their Viking-style rowing and chants.
Arsenal's Martin Odegaard, center, celebrates with teammates after scoring the opening goal during their Champions League soccer match between Napoli and Arsenal, in Naples, southern Italy, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026. Credit: AP/Gregorio Borgia
Ødegaard’s game at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium was capped by firing a fierce left-foot shot from the edge of the penalty area past goalkeeper Vanja Milinković-Savić who could only tip the ball to the inside of his right-hand post.
Arsenal needed it on a night where it had 26 attempts on goal — a club record for an away game in the Champions League. The barrage included a bad miss by Bukayo Saka in the first half and Mikel Merino’s close range header that was aimed too close to Napoli’s starting goalkeeper Alex Meret, who was replaced at halftime because of a thigh injury.
“We played brilliant football and should have scored many more goals, but we got there in the end," Ødegaard said.
Arsenal was the only Champions League team to win all eight main-phase games last season and will be favored to add another victory when it hosts Lille on Oct. 13.
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