The latest Arsenal team news, injury update and predicted XI ahead of their Champions League clash against Napoli
Arsenal maintained their 100% winning start to the 2026/27 season last weekend, as they came from a goal behind to secure a comfortable 2-1 win over Chelsea. Mikel Arteta’s side went 1-0 down early on as failed summer target Morgan Rogers came back to haunt them, but the Gunners remained unfazed as goals from Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard saw the three points secured.
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Next up, Arsenal head to Sicily to take on Serie A side Napoli in the Champions League. Arteta’s side will be spurred on by their brutal penalty shootout loss to Paris Saint-Germain in last year’s final. The north London side’s wait for a European trophy now stretches all the way back to 1994, when they won the now defunct UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup.
Ahead of Wednesday night’s eagerly anticipated clash in Naples, we’ve had our best crack at determining the starting XI Arteta will deploy, as he looks to get the club’s Champions League campaign off to the best possible start with three precious points on the road.
Arsenal predicted XI vs Napoli: goalkeeper and defence
Ezri Konsa impressed on his home debut for Arsenalplaceholder image
Ezri Konsa impressed on his home debut for Arsenal | Getty Images
GK - David Raya: Arsenal dependable number one will start between the sticks, in what will be his 152nd appearance for the club since joining from Brentford, initially on loan, back in 2023. He saved Nuno Mendes’ penalty in last season’s Champions League final shootout against PSG, but was unable to keep the other four spot-kicks out.
RB - Ben White: White was set to go to the World Cup with England, but ultimately missed out after suffering a knee injury during a late-season clash against West Ham. He’s started the new campaign in excellent form for Arsenal, and will be looking to make the right-back spot his own amid Jurrien Timber’s latest injury struggles.
CB - Ezri Konsa: Big things were expected from Konsa following his £51m move from Aston Villa, and he looks to have slotted into Arteta’s side seamlessly, playing an important role in the Gunners’ big win over Chelsea last weekend. With William Saliba still out with a back injury and Cristhian Mosquera also sidelined, he looks set to start on Wednesday night.
CB - Gabriel: Another dominating performance at the back against Chelsea upheld the Brazil international’s reputation as being one of the best central defenders in world football. If Arsenal are to go deep in the Champions League again, Gabriel being in the side and at his best will be integral.
LB - Piero Hincapie: The Gunners have limited defensive numbers at the moment, and may well be regretting their decision not to sign another left-back over the summer. Riccardo Calafiori has started the season superbly, but may be given some rest against Napoli with Hincapie the most likely to take his position for the evening.
Arsenal predicted XI vs Napoli: midfield and attack
Eberechi Eze could be deployed on the left flank against Napoliplaceholder image
Eberechi Eze could be deployed on the left flank against Napoli | AFP via Getty Images
CM - Declan Rice: He somehow hobbled his way to a World Cup semi-final with England over the summer, despite clearly not being match fit. Arteta will be keen to manage his skipper’s minutes carefully this season, but with new signing Bruno Guimaraes still not ready to start, he may have little choice but to turn to Rice once more against Napoli.
CM - Martin Zubimendi: Myles Lewis-Skelly could be a player who’s given some rest on Wednesday, with Zubimendi an ideal candidate to come and slot in next to Rice. The Spaniard was heavily linked with a move away from Arsenal following the signing of Guimaraes, but he opted to remain at the Emirates Stadium and fight for his place.
AMR - Bukayo Saka: Despite Arsenal’s title-winning exploits, Saka was far from his best in the 2025/26 season, as he battled persistent injury problems. He now looks fit and back to his best, and will be looking to get close to the career-high 16 Premier League goal season he accomplished back in 2023/24.
AMC - Martin Odegaard: Another player looking far sharper this season, Odegaard has almost been like a new signing for the Gunners after struggling with knee and shoulder injuries for much of the last campaign. He took his goal against Chelsea excellently, adding to the one he scored in the season opener against Coventry City.
AML - Eberechi Eze: Arteta may also look to freshen the left side as a whole, with Christos Tzolis likely to be given a rest. The Gunners are now heavily reliant on their new signing after failing to add an additional left winger. While Eze prefers to play in a central role, he’s more than adept at filling in on the flanks when required.
ST - Kai Havertz: The German forward once again shone against his former side, netted his fourth goal in seven games against the club who he scored a Champions League final winner for back in 2021. His fine showing last weekend could be enough to see him keep his spot ahead of Viktor Gyokeres - unless Arteta opts to rotate in this position as well.
Arsenal predicted line-up vs Napoli: Raya; White, Konsa, Gabriel, Hincapie; Rice, Zubimendi; Saka, Odegaard, Eze; Havertz.