Højlund: Arsenal Are Clearly a Level Above Overall, Napoli Still Have Room to Improve

In the first round of the 2026-27 UEFA Champions League, Arsenal secured a 1-0 away victory over Napoli, demonstrating the strong ability of the previous season's Premier League champions. After the match, Rasmus Højlund was interviewed and shared his views on the game and his assessment of the team's performance.

When asked whether Napoli's tactical setup had been effective, Højlund said: "Hard to say. Arsenal also created many chances, and the fact that we stayed close in the score for such a long time involved some luck. Although we defended well, we have to admit that our opponents were the team from last season's Champions League final and were also last season's Premier League champions. We gave our best, but Arsenal are clearly a level above overall." His comments acknowledged the opponent's strength while also showing his clear understanding of his own team's situation.

Regarding Arsenal's defense, Højlund specifically mentioned the absence of Saliba and the performance of the substitute center-back. He said: "Arsenal have several excellent defenders. With Saliba missing, the center-back who came on as a substitute was still performing at a high level. Gabriel is the core of Arsenal's defense; he is extremely strong in physical battles and is very good at handling one-on-one duels." Højlund's praise for the opposing defense came not only from individual performances but also reflected his understanding of overall tactics.

Although he failed to score in the match, Højlund was satisfied with his own performance: "I think I performed reasonably well today. Although I didn't score, I did well in holding up the ball with my back to goal. Being able to compete against the world's top players is a great experience for me, even though we were unable to win the match." These comments showed his respect for the game and his focus on personal growth. For a young striker, sharing the pitch with world-class players is undoubtedly valuable experience.

Speaking about Napoli's performance after the appointment of their new head coach, Højlund said he was not anxious: "I don't feel that there is a need to be anxious. Of course we want to win, but the teams we have faced in these matches have all been top sides. Two matches against leading teams in the league, and today's opponent was the Premier League champions." He emphasized the desire to compete with strong opponents while also pointing out that the team still needs to improve. "We want to compete with teams like this. We need to try to win or at least draw against such opponents. We certainly need to do better, but I believe there is still hope."

Through Højlund's comments, it can be seen that Napoli showed resilience and fighting spirit when facing strong opponents. Although their current results are not ideal, he and the team remain confident and look forward to making breakthroughs in upcoming matches. This contest was not only a battle of technique, but also a test of mentality and determination. For Napoli, maintaining their own style and confidence against strong opponents will be an important issue to consider going forward.

In summary, Højlund's performance and analysis of the match not only gave fans a deeper understanding of this Champions League encounter, but also showed Napoli's potential and hope for the future.