UCL | Napoli 0-1 Arsenal: Odegaard and injuries add to crisis | OneFootball

Napoli suffered a third consecutive defeat in all competition, as Martin Odegaard eventually made Arsenal pressure count in the Champions League, but there were fresh injury problems.

The Partenopei were struggling under new coach Max Allegri after back-to-back defeats to Como and Inter. With Scott McTominay undergoing a heart procedure, Alessandro Buongiorno, Luca Marianucci and Giovane long-term absentees, Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa also missed out, with Noa Lang dropped due to disciplinary matters, plus David Neres only fit for the bench. It meant Kevin De Bruyne and Billy Gilmour had to rush recovery for their first starts of the season.

Last year’s Premier League winners and Champions League Finalists Arsenal missed William Saliba, Jurrien Timber and Cristhian Mosquera, but benched Italy international Riccardo Calafiori.

See how it all unfolded on the Liveblog.

NAPLES, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 09: Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, reacts with Massimiliano Allegri, Manager of SSC Napoli, before the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between SSC Napoli and Arsenal FC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on September 09, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

As expected, the Gunners dominated possession from the start, with Bukayo Saka’s acrobatic overhead kick straight at Alex Meret, but the De Bruyne strike bounced off David Raya’s chest with Ben White quicker to react than Alisson Santos on the rebound.

Meret made a fantastic save from point-blank range to palm the Mikel Merino diving header over the bar from an Eberechi Eze knockdown, then was almost surprised by Piero Hincapié at the near post.

NAPLES, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 09: Bukayo Saka of Arsenal FC against Napoli goalkeeper Alex Meret during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between SSC Napoli and Arsenal FC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on September 09, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)

Meret was also struggling with a muscular issue on the inside of the left thigh, but Matteo Politano’s curler was too close to Raya and Saka wasted a golden opportunity when ballooning over from nine yards.

Vanja Milinkovic-Savic came on for his first appearance of the season to replace the injured Meret, but Arsenal were again wasteful when Piero Hincapié fired over from six yards at the end of a long team move.

NAPLES, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 09: Rasmus Hojlund of SSC Napoli competes for the ball with Piero Hincapiè of Arsenal FC during the UEFA Champions League 2026/27 League Phase MD1 match between SSC Napoli and Arsenal FC at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on September 09, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Maurizio Lagana/Getty Images)

Alisson Santos also went off with a muscular injury, and the Arsenal siege eventually paid off with the Martin Odegaard left-foot curler from the edge of the area that Milinkovic-Savic only managed to fingertip onto the inside of the upright. It was another assist from summer signing Christos Tzolis, who came off the bench.

Arsenal nearly got a second late on the counter after a possible foul on Gilmour, as first Milinkovic-Savic denied Noni Madueke, then Rafa Marin made practically a goal-line clearance on the Tzolis follow-up.

Napoli also threatened, but De Bruyne tried to roll across from six yards rather than go for goal when poked through by Antonio Vergara. Kai Havertz had it in the net during added time, but only after wandering offside.

Napoli 0-1 Arsenal

Odegaard 75 (A)