Overview
- Arsenal won 1-0 in Naples on Wednesday, September 9, when captain Martin Odegaard lashed a 75th-minute shot off the post and in to break a tight contest.
- The visitors dominated by volume and quality of chances, registering 26 shots and an expected-goals (xG) of about 4.05 compared with Napoli's roughly 0.22, yet repeatedly missed clear opportunities.
- Christos Tzolis changed the game from the bench by providing the assist for Odegaard's winner, underlining the impact of Arteta's rotation and substitutes.
- Napoli made a half-time goalkeeper change after Alex Meret was injured and are suffering midfield absences that have left coach Massimiliano Allegri facing pressure after a third straight defeat.
- The result extends Arsenal's perfect start across competitions and builds on last season's run to the final, but the team must improve its finishing and left-wing cover to convert dominance into more comfortable victories.