Arsenal and Liverpool both made winning starts to their Champions League campaigns on Wednesday night, although neither side had it entirely their own way.
Martin Odegaard’s late strike earned Arsenal a 1-0 victory at Napoli, while Alexis Mac Allister’s stunning second-half effort completed Liverpool’s comeback against Atletico Madrid in a 2-1 win at Anfield.
Both results reflected a similar theme: English quality eventually telling after cagey and competitive encounters.
Odegaard continues remarkable turnaround
Arsenal had to be patient at the Diego Armando Maradona Stadium, but they were ultimately rewarded when Odegaard struck in the 75th minute.
The Gunners had created enough opportunities to win by a greater margin, with Bukayo Saka, Mikel Merino and others guilty of wasting good chances before their captain finally found the breakthrough.
Odegaard’s finish capped another impressive performance from a player enjoying a remarkable start to the season.
The Norwegian now has four goals in his first five games, having scored just once in 36 appearances last season.
His resurgence has given Mikel Arteta another attacking dimension at a crucial point in Arsenal’s campaign.
Mentality and attitude
“It should have been much bigger,” Arteta told TNT Sports, while praising his side’s performance in what he described as a difficult environment against a tough opponent.
The Arsenal manager was particularly pleased with his team’s mentality, citing their attitude, courage and ability to impose themselves on the game.
For all the missed opportunities, the clean sheet was equally important. Arsenal once again demonstrated the defensive resolve that helped them reach last season’s Champions League final.
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Mac Allister produces the moment of quality
Liverpool faced a different challenge at Anfield after falling behind to Marcos Llorente’s 17th-minute opener.
Dominik Szoboszlai levelled shortly before half-time before Mac Allister produced the decisive moment five minutes after the interval, smashing a spectacular 20-yard effort into the net.
It was an important night for Andoni Iraola, too, as the Liverpool manager secured his first Champions League victory in his first match in the competition.
There was plenty to admire, but Bradley Barcola’s debut provided one of the talking points.
Barcola struggles
The £123m summer signing made his first Liverpool start and looked lively, but missed three opportunities that could have put the game beyond Atletico before being withdrawn after suffering from cramp.
Iraola subsequently confirmed there was no injury concern, explaining that the Frenchman is still building his physical condition after arriving without a pre-season at Paris Saint-Germain.
“I want him there,” Iraola said after the match, highlighting the positive aspect of Barcola repeatedly finding himself in dangerous positions.
That should ultimately be the biggest takeaway from his debut.
Strong starts, but room for improvement
Neither Arsenal nor Liverpool were at their most clinical, but both demonstrated an important quality in European football: the ability to keep applying pressure until the decisive moment arrives.
Odegaard’s finish secured Arsenal’s three points in Naples, while Mac Allister’s strike completed Liverpool’s comeback and gave Iraola a winning Champions League debut.
Both sides have started their European campaigns with three points, even if there is plenty for Arteta and Iraola to refine before Matchday two.
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Michael Davey 
Nicole Powell 
SportJustSport writers