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 United Kingdom.
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 to 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.
Napoli finished as runners up behind Inter in Serie A last season but have made a poor start this season under 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.
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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.”