Arsenal’s preparations for their opening Champions League game against Napoli have been disrupted after they were caught up in the travel chaos that affected airports across the UK.
Mikel Arteta was forced to cancel his pre-match press conference at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Tuesday after Arsenal’s flight was severely delayed by an air-traffic control issue. The Arsenal manager and his players are understood to have remained at the club’s training ground in Hertfordshire as they waited for the delay to pass after completing their morning session as usual.
Club sources have insisted there has been no alteration to their planned schedule other than arriving later than expected to the team hotel. Uefa has also agreed to allow Arsenal to cancel their mandatory press conference due to the delays, which have also affected supporters travelling to Italy for the match.
Jurriën Timber is set to be part of the Arsenal squad for the first time since the Champions League final defeat by Paris Saint-Germain on 30 May after recovering from a groin injury. The Netherlands defender missed the World Cup due to the problem that has dogged him since March but Arteta said before Sunday’s win over Chelsea that Timber was close to returning.
Cristhian Mosquera is still absent with a muscle issue but Marli Salmon, the 17-year-old defender who signed his first professional deal last month, is also part of the 23-man squad.
Arsenal won all eight of their group stage matches in the Champions League last season on their way to the final and have only lost one in their last 12 away games in the competition. But as they prepare for one of Europe’s most intimidating atmospheres, Arteta insisted they must take one game at a time despite starting the season with a 100% record in the Premier League.
“That puts us in a really good situation. The energy and the confidence around the team is high – now we have to show that,” he said.
“I’ve been in that stadium before, I know the atmosphere they create. The record at home is really, really strong. We know the challenge ahead. We are prepared and we’re ready to go.”
Napoli finished as runners up behind Inter in Serie A last season, but have made a poor start this season under their new manager, Massimiliano Allegri. Kevin De Bruyne is expected to feature against Arsenal but they are without Scott McTominay, who had a successful surgical procedure to treat an irregular heartbeat yesterday. The 29-year-old is expected to resume training in two weeks.
Napoli are also are likely to be without influential former Fulham midfielder André-Frank Zambo Anguissa as Allegri takes charge of his first Champions League match for four years. “People in this town have passion for the team, we have to start winning games again,” Allegri said. “We know we are challenging a very strong team – Arteta has done extraordinary things. Let’s face it with pride and desire.”
