Arteta: Arsenal deserved more than 1-0 win but Napoli made it difficult
Quick summary
Mikel Arteta said Arsenal merited a larger margin of victory over Napoli, praising his team's effort in a hard-fought 1-0 win while acknowledging Napoli's resistance.
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Attributed to original sourceMikel Arteta feels the ‘result does not reflect’ the Arsenal performance, only beating Napoli 1-0 in the Champions League . ‘They made things very difficult for us.’
The Gunners continued their perfect start to the season, having won their first three Premier League matches, and leaving the Stadio Maradona with a clean sheet in their Champions League opener.
Despite dominating possession in Naples, it required a moment of magic from Martin Odegaard to break the deadlock, his curler from the edge of the area fingertipped onto the inside of the far post by Vanja Milinkovic-Savic.
Arteta proud of Arsenal patience NAPLES, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 09: Arsenal FC head coach Mikel Arteta 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) “Arsenal were fantastic, I really enjoyed the performance,” Arteta told Amazon Prime Video Italia and Sky Sport Italia.
“I was impressed by everyone’s desire to give their all against a very difficult opponent. The result does not reflect what we saw on the field, as we could’ve won by many more goals, but I am happy anyway, because it is not easy to win here.”
Arsenal had 25 attempts on goal in this match, and completed 580 passes compared to Napoli’s 400.
NAPLES, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 09: Eberechi Eze of Arsenal runs with the ball under pressure from Billy Gilmour of SSC Napoli 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 Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images) They reached the Champions League Final last season and only lost on penalties to Paris Saint-Germain, so is that their main target this time?
“We’ve just started, but there is a good record in the tournament. We put in a fine performance and deserved to win today. Napoli have players who make things very difficult for us.”
The secret of Arsenal’s success last season in the Premier League was their remarkable defensive record.
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) “It’s not a secret, it’s the consequence of our work,” replied Arteta. “Their desire to win the ball back every time we lose it is incredible, the players want to improve every day.”
It has been noted that the Gunners are a very unusual side in England for their occasionally slow tempo and patience in waiting for the right opportunity.
“Every time you lose the ball and allow a counter-attack, it’s a possibility, but you need to take risks against a side like Napoli and it paid off. Last season was very difficult, but we have to just keep working every day.”
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What happened
Following Arsenal's narrow 1-0 victory over Napoli, manager Mikel Arteta expressed that his side deserved a more comfortable margin but credited Napoli for making the match difficult. The result is a positive outcome for Arsenal in the context of European competition, reinforcing their campaign momentum. Arteta's comments reflect satisfaction with the performance while respecting the quality of the opposition. The match highlights Arsenal's ability to grind out results against disciplined sides.
Chance analysis
Arsenal's narrow win over Napoli keeps their European campaign on track, even if the scoreline didn't fully reflect their control. Arteta's measured praise for Napoli signals respect for a side that has historically troubled English clubs in Europe. For Arsenal, securing three points without conceding in a difficult away environment demonstrates defensive solidity — an area that has been a focal point under Arteta. The comments suggest Arsenal are growing into a side capable of winning ugly, which is often the hallmark of deep tournament runs.
Positive for Arsenal's confidence and defensive record in European competition; neutral overall given the narrow scoreline.