“Billy Gilmour picks up a yellow card for a foul as Napoli try to disrupt Arsenal's rhythm in midfield during a first half dominated territorially by the visitors.”
“Martin Ødegaard breaks the deadlock with a superb left-footed strike from outside the box, giving Arsenal the lead they had threatened for the entire match.”
Pivotal“Martin Ødegaard is booked for time-wasting as Arsenal look to see out the closing stages and protect their slender lead in hostile territory.”
Napoli
Arsenal
Outstanding performance
Arsenal•MidfielderArsenal underlined their status as one of Europe's elite sides with a near-total takeover of this Champions League clash in Naples, racking up 26 shots and six big chances to Napoli's five shots and zero big chances created. Antonio Conte's side were reduced to a defensive rearguard for long stretches, managing just 20 dangerous attacks compared to Arsenal's 110, and their resistance eventually cracked in the 75th minute when Martin Ødegaard curled a left-footed strike from outside the box past the Napoli goalkeeper. The introductions of Kai Havertz and Noni Madueke just before the goal injected fresh legs into an already dominant Arsenal attack, and while Napoli's Vanja Milinković-Savić made six saves to keep the deficit respectable, the hosts never troubled the visitors' goal with any real conviction. For Arsenal, this is a statement result on the road in the group phase; for Napoli, it's a reminder of the gulf in class against Europe's heavyweights despite Conte's typically well-organized setup limiting the damage to a single goal.
How entertaining was this match?
assist: Christos Tzolis
Goal! Arsenal takes the lead 1-0 against Napoli with a left-footed shot from outside the box by Martin Ødegaard.
Substitution for Arsenal: Kai Havertz comes on for Viktor Gyökeres.
Substitution for Arsenal: Noni Madueke comes on for Bukayo Saka.
Mathías Olivera from Napoli is awarded a free kick in the attacking half.
Declan Rice from Arsenal commits a foul.
Costantino Favasuli from Napoli is awarded a free kick in the attacking half.
Foul committed by Gabriel Magalhães of Arsenal.
Martin Ødegaard's left-footed shot from outside the box is blocked. The attempt was assisted by Bruno Guimarães.
Attempt missed. Piero Hincapié from Arsenal heads the ball from the left side of the six-yard box, but it goes too high.
Attempt missed. Christos Tzolis from Arsenal takes a left-footed shot from the center of the box, but it goes high and wide to the left. Viktor Gyökeres provided the assist.
Foul committed by Kevin De Bruyne of Napoli.
Ben White from Arsenal wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Substitution for Arsenal: Bruno Guimarães comes on for Mikel Merino.
Substitution for Arsenal: Christos Tzolis comes on for Eberechi Eze.
Martin Ødegaard from Arsenal wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Rafa Marín of Napoli.
Attempt missed. Declan Rice (Arsenal) takes a right-footed shot from outside the box that goes high and wide to the right. Viktor Gyökeres provided the assist.
Attempt blocked. Rasmus Højlund from Napoli has a right-footed shot from the center of the box that is blocked.
Substitution for Napoli: Costantino Favasuli comes on for Matteo Politano.
Delay is over, and they are ready to continue.
Substitution for Napoli: Antonio Vergara comes on for Alisson Santos due to an injury.
The match is delayed due to an injury to Alisson Santos from Napoli.
Attempt saved. Mikel Merino from Arsenal has a left-footed shot from outside the box, but it's saved in the center of the goal by Vanja Milinkovic-Savic from Napoli. The assist came from Martin Ødegaard.
Rasmus Højlund from Napoli commits a foul.
Mikel Merino from Arsenal wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Declan Rice from Arsenal commits a foul.
Kevin De Bruyne from Napoli wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Gabriel Magalhães of Arsenal.
Alisson Santos from Napoli wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Bukayo Saka's left-footed shot from outside the box is blocked. He was assisted by Martin Ødegaard.
Attempt missed by Piero Hincapié from Arsenal, who had a left-footed shot from very close range.
Viktor Gyökeres from Arsenal is awarded a free kick in the defensive half.
Rafa Marín from Napoli commits a foul.
The second half begins with the score at 0-0 between Napoli and Arsenal.
Substitution for Napoli: Vanja Milinkovic-Savic comes on for Alex Meret due to an injury.
The first half ends with Napoli and Arsenal tied at 0-0.
Attempt missed. Piero Hincapié from Arsenal had a right-footed shot from the center of the box after a corner.
Arsenal win a corner after Mathías Olivera concedes.
The fourth official has indicated there will be 2 minutes of added time.
Bukayo Saka from Arsenal misses an attempt with a left-footed shot from the center of the box, sending it just a bit too high. He was assisted by Martin Ødegaard, who provided a through ball during a fast break.
Giovanni Di Lorenzo from Napoli wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Mikel Merino of Arsenal.
Martin Ødegaard's left-footed shot from outside the box for Arsenal is blocked.
Billy GilmourYellow CardBilly Gilmour of Napoli receives a yellow card for a foul.
Foul committed by Billy Gilmour of Napoli.
Eberechi Eze from Arsenal wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Attempt missed. Bukayo Saka from Arsenal takes a left-footed shot from outside the box but it goes high and wide to the left. Eberechi Eze provided the assist.
Matteo Politano's left-footed shot from outside the box is saved.
Delay is over and they are ready to continue.
The match is currently delayed for a drinks break.
Declan Rice from Arsenal misses the attempt with a left-footed shot from outside the box, sending it high and wide to the left. Bukayo Saka provided the assist.
Rasmus Højlund of Napoli is caught offside.
Rafa Marín from Napoli commits a foul.
Viktor Gyökeres from Arsenal wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Attempt missed. Bukayo Saka (Arsenal) took a left-footed shot from the center of the box.
Attempt missed by Eberechi Eze from Arsenal, who took a right-footed shot from outside the box.
Kevin De Bruyne from Napoli wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Mikel Merino of Arsenal.
Ben White's right-footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the center of the goal by Alex Meret. Mikel Merino provided the assist.
Attempt blocked. Alisson Santos of Napoli has a right-footed shot from the left side of the box, but it is blocked. Kevin De Bruyne provided the assist.
Rasmus Højlund of Napoli commits a foul.
Arsenal win a corner, conceded by Alex Meret.
Mikel Merino's header from close range is saved in the top left corner by Alex Meret. The attempt was assisted by Eberechi Eze with a headed pass.
Gabriel Magalhães from Arsenal wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Kevin De Bruyne from Napoli wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Foul committed by Eberechi Eze of Arsenal.
Matteo Politano's left-footed shot from outside the box is saved in the center of the goal by David Raya.
Attempt saved. Kevin De Bruyne from Napoli has his right-footed shot from outside the box saved.
Attempt saved. Bukayo Saka from Arsenal has a left-footed shot from the center of the box that is saved.
Gabriel Magalhães from Arsenal has a left-footed shot from the center of the box, but it is blocked.
Foul committed by Giovanni Di Lorenzo of Napoli.
Eberechi Eze from Arsenal wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Arsenal win a corner after Amir Rrahmani concedes.
Attempt blocked. Eberechi Eze from Arsenal has a left-footed shot from outside the box that is blocked. Viktor Gyökeres provided the assist.
Arsenal win a corner after Giovanni Di Lorenzo concedes.
Attempt blocked. Bukayo Saka from Arsenal has a left-footed shot from the right side of the box that is blocked. He was assisted by Ben White.
Amir Rrahmani from Napoli wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Eberechi Eze from Arsenal commits a foul.
First half begins.
Napoli host Arsenal at the Maradona in a Champions League League Stage opener, with the Italians desperate to bounce back from a stunning collapse against Inter. Arsenal arrive full of confidence after edging Chelsea, looking to carry their perfect domestic start into Europe.
