Odegaard sinks Napoli 1-0 as Arsenal win Champions opener

Napoli's Champions League campaign began with a home defeat, beaten 1-0 by Arsenal at the Maradona on Wednesday 9 September 2026.

The numbers told the story of the night. Napoli had 42% possession but rarely threatened: five shots to Arsenal's 26, only three on target against eight, and zero corners won compared to six conceded.

The first half ended with a booking for Gilmour in the 42nd minute and an enforced change in first-half stoppage time, as Meret made way for Milinkovic-Savic in goal.

Head coach Allegri tried to change things after the break, making a double substitution in the 58th minute: Favasuli on for Politano, and Vergara on for Santos. The pattern held. Arsenal kept control, and Napoli still could not create anything — the corner count stayed at zero all the way to the end.

Little else of note happened late on. Lucca was booked in the 85th minute, Odegaard in the 90th, and the score stayed at 0-1 through to full time.

Napoli's first Champions League match of the campaign ends in a home defeat to an opponent that had 26 shots to their five and gave away almost nothing at the back. With supporters already pressing Allegri for more tactical clarity, a night with zero corners and just three shots on target in ninety minutes will not ease those concerns, in this competition or any other.