Martin Odegaard's superb strike gave Arsenal a deserved 1-0 victory over Napoli in their Champions League opener. The Gunners should have won by a bigger margin but missed a succession of chances before Odegaard crashed a low shot in off the post from the edge of the box following intricate build-up. The goal, Odegaard's fourth in five games this season, ensured a winning start for last season's runners-up in this competition but wasteful finishing made it harder than it should have been.
Mikel Arteta's side attempted 26 shots worth a whopping 4.05 expected goals but Mikel Merino and Bukayo Saka spurned their best chances of the first half before Piero Hincapie blazed over from six yards out early in the second. Odegaard's goal, fired in following a quick one-two with substitute Christos Tzolis, finally broke the deadlock but Noni Madueke, another substitute, missed a one-on-one chance with Tzolis's follow-up blocked on the line, leaving Arsenal to suffer a late scare. Former Manchester City playmaker Kevin De Bruyne appeared well placed to equalise when put through for a rare Napoli chance in the final few minutes, but wasted the chance by opting to cross, ensuring Arsenal could celebrate a victorious start to their European campaign and a fifth straight win of the season in all competitions.
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