Allegri says Napoli were second best as Arsenal start Champions League

Arsenal opened their Champions League campaign with a win at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Wednesday night, Martin Odegaard’s second‑half curler providing the only goal. Mikel Arteta’s side dominated, registering 26 shots, but it was the captain’s finish that broke the deadlock.

Allegri’s assessment of Napoli’s performance

Max Allegri, Napoli head coach Massimiliano Allergi, conceded that his side were simply second best, saying there was “nothing his side could do” against “one of the strongest teams in Europe’”. The comment appeared alongside a (Picture: Shutterstock) image of the coach after the match.

Allegri added that Napoli’s defence had been solid, noting “We defended well; if we had defended like that against Como and Inter, we probably wouldn’t have lost”. He praised Arsenal’s “extraordinary” quality but highlighted the opposition’s slick one‑twos that caused problems.

Napoli have now suffered three consecutive defeats in all competitions, following losses to Como and Inter in Serie A. The run marks the longest negative streak for the club since Walter Mazzarri’s tenure in 2023 and the worst start to a season since 2000/01.

Inter count on Calha's return as Serie A restarts on Saturday

The Partenopei entered the match with a host of absences: Scott McTominay, Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa, Alessandro Buongiorno, Luca Marianucci and Giovane were injured; Noa Lang was left out for disciplinary reasons; David Neres was fit only for the bench. Goalkeeper Alex Meret and defender Alisson Santos withdrew during the game with muscular problems.

Allegri also pointed out that Napoli missed several chances in the final third, crossing when there was nobody in the box and falling for a one‑two that they failed to follow through on. “We need to look at the positives,” he said, adding that the team must improve balance and decision‑making.

Arsenal’s “Gunners” displayed patience, keeping the ball and limiting Napoli’s chances. Victor Gyokeres featured for the English side, contributing to the fluid passing that saw the Gunners dominate possession.

Allegri wanted to sign Doumbia for Milan and Napoli, but Sporting have him

Looking ahead, Allegri stressed the importance of the next home game against Bologna, insisting a win is essential to brighten Napoli’s outlook. The result of that encounter remains to be seen.