Arsenal player ratings vs Napoli: New signing dominant, captain runs the show but 4/10 striker anonymous | OneFootball

Arsenal grind out hard fought win over Napoli to get Champions League campaign up and running

Arsenal began their Champions League campaign in successful fashion with a 1-0 win over Napoli at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium.

It looked like being a tale of missed chances for the Gunners, who had Mikel Merino, Bukayo Saka and Piero Hincapie all waste huge opportunities to open the scoring.

Martin Odegaard, though, ensured those did not prove costly, as he rifled in from just outside the area to get Arsenal up and running in Europe.

Here is how Matt Verri rated the Arsenal players in Naples...

David Raya 6

Shaky stop from long-range De Bruyne effort. Had two more comfortable saves from shots straight at him and otherwise a very routine night, once again. Another clean sheet.

Ben White 7

Looks back to his best in attack. Constant threat on the overlap and he was sharp to mop up in his own box when Raya parried straight out. Key role in Arsenal’s rampant right wing.

What a signing. Dominant physically, bullying Hojlund all night, and had the pace to cover across the back line too. Looked a threat in the Napoli box as well.

Gabriel 8

Didn’t put a foot wrong in defence and partnership with Konsa is developing really promisingly. Led the way for clearances for the Gunners. Always in the right place to block.

Piero Hincapie 6

Horror show to somehow fire over the bar from two yards out. His final-third contributions sent the wrong kind of reminder, from his point of view, of just how unique Calafiori is. Defensively, though, hard to fault.

Declan Rice 6

Not his night. Had some frustrated strikes from distance and looked increasingly tired, unable to get back on the break as he normally does. Still asked to fill in at right-back in final 10 minutes.

Mikel Merino 5

Started the night of bad misses when heading straight at the goalkeeper. Never looked particularly comfortable as the left No8 and did not have the running power to cover the ground.

Bukayo Saka 6

Some truly woeful finishing, particularly when clean through just before half-time. Overall game was sharp apart from that but Arsenal expect more from him.

Martin Odegaard 9

Ran the show in another sublime display. Unplayable at times as he skipped around the third, putting chances on a plate. Then got it done himself with a wonderful strike. Majestic.

Captain fantastic: Martin Odegaard

AFP/Getty

Eberechi Eze 5

Some bright moments early on, especially when there was space on the break, but decision-making was poor. Faded significantly in the second half before coming off.

Viktor Gyokeres 4

One nice cross with the outside of his foot for Saka. Otherwise basically anonymous. Not enough movement to find space in the box and the game passed him by. Nine touches in 73 minutes.

Substitutes:

Christos Tzolis (Eze 66’) 7

Added more threat to the left, playing with real drive. Assisted Odegaard and then had a shot blocked on the line.

Bruno Guimaraes (Merino 66’) 6

Progressive passing does get Arsenal on the front foot. Can tell he’s not quite up to full speed yet after minor injury issues.

Kai Havertz (Gyokeres 73’) 7

Immediately added calm up front. Should have had an assist when playing Madueke in. Denied late goal by the offside flag.

Noni Madueke (Saka 73’) 4

Had the chance to put the match to bed but made a mess of it when clean through.