Post-Napoli quotes round-up: Arteta, Allegri, Di Lorenzo, Odegaard, Rice, Keown & more

Martin Odegaard was Arsenal’s match-winner again as Mikel Arteta’s side beat Napoli 1-0 at the Estadio Diego Armando Maradona.

The Gunners bullied Serie A’s second-best side throughout and should have won by a wider margin, but squandered several clear-cut chances among their 26 efforts on goal.

In the end, their profligacy did not matter. Odegaard rifled home via the post in the 75th minute, his fourth goal in five games, to secure a winning start to the new Champions League campaign.

Here’s what the managers, players, pundits and stattos made of the action…

Mikel Arteta on the performance and win…

Very, very happy. The way we attacked the game from the first minute, how we competed, the clarity we had [about] how we had to attack them, the purpose, the quality, the amount of chances we generated – for sure the scoreline has to reflect a very different result. We will get there. If we were a bit more precise, it would be much bigger. But to have done what we’ve done today in this stadium, against this opponent, is remarkable from the team.

Source: Post-game press conference

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Napoli coach Massimiliano Allegri on the match:

Arsenal are a great team. We needed to be patient in not conceding. We raised our level. We could’ve not conceded and we could’ve scored. We need to analyse our mistakes. The first half we could’ve done better on a technical level. But Arsenal put in a great performance to be able to score. They are a great side.

Source: Sky Sports Italia (via UEFA.com)

Napoli’s Giovanni Di Lorenzo on a humbling night…

We knew that we were up against a great side with a lot of quality. Once again, we defended a little too deep, but it wasn’t easy to cover all the spaces. We also had a few potential scoring opportunities where we could’ve done better on the final ball. It’s disappointing for the result, but we have another seven games to try and earn our qualification for the next phase. It is only the beginning; details make the difference at this level, and you get punished, so we must try to eliminate these errors and start getting positive results. Our heads are held high; we’re not happy with three defeats in a row, but we’ve got to keep working and improve from the next matches.

Source: Sky Sports Italia

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Martin Odegaard on a deserved win…

We played brilliant football and should have scored many more goals, but we got there in the end. We did really well, created so many chances. We just missed the detail in the end, but we kept playing with the right mindset.

Source: UEFA.com

UEFA Technical Observer Group on awarding Odegaard Player of the Match…

He was the intelligent brain in Arsenal’s attacking play. His vision and technical ability broke Napoli’s defensive setup and his role was the difference in the scoreline between the two teams. With over 100 passes, four chances created and the decisive goal, Ødegaard was the outstanding player of the night.

Source: UEFA.com

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Mikel Arteta on Odegaard’s start to the season…

Martin is contributing with goals that are impacting results which is what we want from our attacking players, being decisive and certainly he was again today.

Source: TNT Sports

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Declan Rice on Arsenal’s finishing…

It was really tough, really good opposition. We had so many chances and could’ve been more clinical. It was still a good night, but we could’ve scored more goals.

Source: Canal+ (via UEFA.com)

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Arteta on all 10 of Arsenal’s goals this season coming from open play…

As I said many times last year, we missed so many attacking players that now they are playing, they are fit, and they are all available to play.

Source: CBS Sports Golazo

Joe Cole on Martin Odegaard’s form…

Odegaard was brilliant all night, back to his very best. What a start to the season. From his perspective, he’s probably thinking of the season he had last year, although he won the title, it wasn’t his best season on a personal level. He dropped below his standards. He’s turned up for this season and said I’m going to take the club by the scruff of the neck again. He looks like the player we admired from 18 months ago.

Source: TNT Sports

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Martin Keown on the performance…

The hunger of the team, they were relentless tonight. If you were to ask those Napoli players to talk about that game, they got worked. Arsenal went physical, tough in the duels. Lots of players making their first starts tonight, but still looking razor-sharp, hard to beat. New partnership at the back, it’s all there. And Odegaard is the icing on the cake. He looks the real deal. Bruno coming off the bench, the squad being used, it’s a nice night for the manager.

Source: TNT Sports

Arteta on all 10 of Arsenal’s goals this season coming from open play…

As I said many times last year, we missed so many attacking players that now they are playing, they are fit, and they are all available to play.

Source: CBS Sports Golazo

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Arteta on facing Kevin de Bruyne…

One of my favourite ever players is Kevin De Bruyne. I had the luxury to train him [at Man City] and be with him for almost four years, and in my opinion is one of the best midfielders ever, and it’s still a joy to watch him play.

Source: Post-game press conference

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