Arsenal are passing every test - and Odegaard is in form of his life
September 9, 2026 22:35
Arsenal opened their Champions League campaign with a 1-0 win away to Napoli thanks to a left-foot strike from captain Martin Ødegaard about 15 minutes from time. The victory capped another bright start to the season for Ødegaard, who had already scored in the Community Shield and in league wins over Coventry and Chelsea.
Manager Mikel Arteta praised Ødegaard’s positioning and mentality after the Napoli game, while pundit Nedum Onuoha highlighted the captain’s ability to lift Arsenal when he is at his best.
KEY CONTEXT
- Ødegaard, 27, struggled last season with knee and shoulder problems and was limited to 36 appearances, one goal and seven assists in all competitions; he played 24 Premier League matches as Arsenal won the title.
- He showed signs of recovery with Norway at the World Cup, when they reached the quarter-finals and lost to England.
- Arsenal reached the Champions League final last season but lost to Paris St-Germain on penalties; they also claimed their first Premier League title in 24 years.
WHY IT MATTERS
Ødegaard’s early-season scoring run and renewed fitness raise Arsenal’s ceiling in both domestic and European competitions. When he is influential, observers say the team’s attacking shape and effectiveness change markedly. Keeping him fit and productive could be decisive as Arsenal navigate tough Champions League opponents and defend domestic honours.
WHAT TO WATCH NEXT
- Can Ødegaard sustain this scoring and creative form through the group stage and the long season ahead?
- Arsenal face challenging fixtures in this Champions League group, including matches against Real Madrid at home and Bayern Munich away; those games will be key tests of the side’s progress.
- How Arteta manages squad fitness and consistency, given Ødegaard’s recent history of injuries, will be important for Arsenal’s ambitions.
KEY FACTS
- Arsenal beat Napoli 1-0; Ødegaard scored 15 minutes from time.
- Ødegaard is 27 and captains Arsenal.
- Last season he played 36 games, scoring one goal with seven assists, and made 24 Premier League appearances.
- He scored in Arsenal’s Community Shield win over Manchester City and in wins over Coventry (3-0) and Chelsea (2-1).
- Arsenal lost last season’s Champions League final to Paris St-Germain on penalties; Norway reached the World Cup quarter-finals, losing to England.