Arsenal beat Napoli thanks to Odegaard's genius moment, De Bruyne praises

In the Champions League quarter-finals of the 2026/2026 season, Arsenal secured a thrilling 1-0 victory over Napoli at the Emirates Stadium. The only goal of the match was scored by captain Martin Odegaard in the 73rd minute, a delicate finish in the box after a pass from Bukayo Saka. This win brings the Gunners one step closer to the semi-finals and reinforces their status as a serious title contender. Shortly after the match, Napoli midfielder Kevin De Bruyne – who had an outstanding performance but couldn't help his team score – praised Arsenal. Speaking to CBS Sports, De Bruyne said, "Arsenal are the best team in the world right now. They play perfect football. Odegaard is a genius; I've never seen anyone read the game as well as he does. Arsenal deserve to win the Premier League, and I believe they will reach the Champions League final." These compliments further highlight the significance of Arsenal's victory, as De Bruyne is known for being reserved and rarely praising opponents. The first half was balanced. Napoli, under coach Rudi Garcia, played sharp counter-attacking football with De Bruyne on the left wing in a 4-3-3 formation. However, Arsenal dominated possession (62%) and created more chances. In the 73rd minute, Odegaard received the ball at the edge of the box, turned past two Napoli defenders, and slotted a low shot into the far corner. It was his 12th Champions League goal of the season, an impressive tally for a midfielder. Tactically, manager Mikel Arteta deployed a three-man midfield of Odegaard, Declan Rice, and Jorginho, which completely controlled the center. Rice made 11 ball recoveries, while Jorginho completed 89 passes with 94% accuracy. Napoli managed only two shots on target, both from De Bruyne, but both were saved by goalkeeper David Raya. However, the victory was not without controversy. Some pundits argued that Arsenal were lucky not to concede a penalty in the 68th minute after a collision between Gabriel Magalhaes and Victor Osimhen. VAR confirmed no foul. Arteta later emphasized, "We deserved to win. The players played with heart and mind. Odegaard is the best player I have ever coached." With this result, Arsenal boost their chances of a double. They lead the Premier League by 8 points over Manchester City with only 5 games left. If they maintain form, Arteta's side could dream of a historic season. Napoli, meanwhile, must look for a comeback in the second leg at San Paolo, where they beat Liverpool 4-1 in the group stage. Commentator Nguyen Huu Thang from VTV6 remarked, "Arsenal are playing beautiful and effective football. Odegaard is the soul. If they keep this up, no one can stop them in the Champions League." On Vietnamese football forums, fans are buzzing with praise for the London club's performance. Looking ahead, if Arsenal overcome Napoli, they will face the winner of Real Madrid vs Paris Saint-Germain. With their current squad, the Gunners have every chance to compete. De Bruyne, despite the defeat, sent his best wishes: "I hope Arsenal win it all. Football needs teams like them." That statement only adds to the allure of Arsenal this season. The second leg will take place on April 16 in Naples. Can Napoli produce a miracle? Or will Arsenal continue their European conquest? The answer will come soon.