Mikel Arteta looks on before Arsenal's match against Girona
Mikel Arteta's pre-match press conference in Naples has been cancelled amid ongoing travel mayhem.
The Arsenal boss was due to speak to reporters on Tuesday afternoon, however, Arteta and his squad are not expected to arrive in Naples until 9:30pm on the same evening.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, wearing an orange top, looks on during a training session.3
Arteta and his team remained at the club's training ground on Tuesday due to the delays
The delay is due to Air Traffic Control issues that has affected passengers across the UK.
Thousands have been impacted by flight delays from London-based airports in the last 24 hours.
It is due to a technical problem that has been affecting air traffic control systems.
Arsenal are scheduled to fly out of London Luton Airport which is located close to the club's training ground.
The Premier League champions could now find themselves in hot water with UEFA ahead of Wednesday's Champions League opener with Napoli
UEFA have the power to fine clubs who fail to carry out their media obligations.
A penalty is handed out if press conferences are delayed by an hour although rules state that pre-match plans can be changed if affected by circumstances beyond their control.
The UEFA ruling reads: "Clubs may only change their MD-1 plans on account of force majeure and with the agreement of UEFA."
Jordan Ayew lands Championship move months after Leicester releaseCarvajal tipped for Premier League move at 34 with three optionsFinancial expert says Premier League 'screwed up' Man City case amid ex-chairman's takeKane has one main rival for Ballon d'Or as top five favourites compared
As the issue is out of the club’s control, there is a good chance that UEFA could bypass a sanction.
The Gunners will hope that the delays do little to upset their pre-match preparations ahead of the clash at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
Napoli's home the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona3
A raucous Stadio Diego Maradona awaits Arteta's side on Wednesday night
Arsenal begin their quest for a first Champions League trophy following last season's agonising final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
Arteta's side recorded an unbeaten European campaign spanning 14 matches before losing to the French giants on penalties in Budapest.
Ahead of the Matchday one fixture, Arteta will be without Cristhian Mosquera who continues his recovery from a muscular issue picked up in the 1-0 win at Aston Villa last month.
But there is good news for the Gunners boss with Jurrien Timber fit enough to travel with the squad to Italy.
The Dutch full-back has not featured since May's Champions League final defeat.
Following the clash with Napoli, Arsenal face a tough run of fixtures in their quest to finishing in the top eight of the league phase which secures automatic qualification for the round of 16 stage.
Players of Arsenal appear dejected after receiving their Runners Up Medals following the team's defeat in the UEFA Champions League Final 2026 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal3
Arsenal are hoping to go one better than last season's final defeat and win their first Champions League trophy
Up next for the Premier League champions are crunch fixtures against Lille,Bayern Munich,Slavia Prague,Borussia DortmundandReal Madrid.
This is a developing story and is being updated .
For the latest updates, breaking news alerts, and comprehensive analysis, refresh this page or follow our real-time news coverage by watching and listening to talkSPORT live.
For broader context, explore related coverage on our homepage for the top trending stories. For the latest talkSPORT videos, download the app.
talkSPORT cares about getting it right, not just getting it first and because this is a developing situation, details will change. We will be updating this page constantly with verified info, expert takes, and official statements.
Stay tuned for further developments as this story continues to break.