Odegaard strike earns Arsenal narrow victory at Napoli

Mikel Arteta praised Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard for securing a 1-0 win over Napoli, noting that the goal did not fully reflect the team's overall performance. Last season, Odegaard had missed several games due to injuries, but his form has dramatically improved this season, scoring four goals in five games, including recent winners against Chelsea and Napoli.

This progress represents a significant shift in Odegaard's output, with Arteta recognizing his growing importance to the team in attacking scenarios. Arteta emphasized the value of players who maintain a strong mentality during games, taking chances and making high-risk plays. The manager believed Odegaard is now occupying key positions in the team, demonstrating a heightened emotional state and awareness of scoring opportunities.

He highlighted Arsenal's strong start to the season, winning all three Premier League matches thus far, and expressed satisfaction with their display against Napoli. However, Arteta acknowledged that the scoreline was not entirely indicative of the quality of play, suggesting that a more precise performance could have yielded a greater result.

He attributed the team's success to their aggressive attacking approach and the quality of chances generated, despite conceding the win to a technically proficient Napoli side. The defeat marked a setback for Napoli's new coach, Massimiliano Allegri, who had already suffered three consecutive losses across all competitions following recent setbacks against Como and Inter.