Arsenal will face Napoli in their first league phase match in the Champions League but will have some players unavailable through injury
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta(Image: David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
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Arsenal and Napoli will both have players on the sidelines when they meet in the Champions League this week. The Gunners will travel to Naples to face the Italian club on Wednesday evening for their first league phase fixture of the season.
Mikel Arteta’s side will take on Napoli in their first Champions League game since losing to Paris Saint-Germain in the final last season, where they will look to secure all three points on their trip to Italy.
There are expected to be several players unavailable for both teams, with Arsenal dealing with some members of their squad on the sidelines.
Arsenal remain without William Saliba, who is still recovering from a back injury that he suffered with France during the World Cup in the summer.
Cristhian Mosquera has also been dealing with a muscle injury over the last week that forced the centre-back to miss Arsenal’s win over Chelsea in the Premier League over the weekend.
Arteta, though, suggested that the decision not to name Mosquera in the matchday squad to face the Blues was made as a precaution.
Arteta said: "He had a muscular issue. We think it is not too much, but we need to wait and see in the next few days how it evolves."
Jurrien Timber is yet to feature for Arsenal this season after undergoing minor surgery over the summer, but has taken part in training in the build-up to the fixture this week.
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Arteta gave a positive update on Timber’s fitness last week when asked about the Netherlands international’s recovery.
The Arsenal boss said: "He’s in really good condition at the moment, he’s been a few weeks on the pitch and has been training with us, so he’s in a really good place."
Napoli will also be without some key players when they welcome Arsenal to their home stadium on Wednesday, with Scott McTominay ruled out.
The Serie A giants confirmed on Tuesday that the former Manchester United star underwent successful surgery on a minor heart issue and is expected to be in recovery for two weeks before returning to training.
“On Tuesday morning, Scott McTominay underwent an ablation procedure at Spire Manchester Hospital. The operation was a complete success," Napoli confirmed in a statement on Tuesday.
“McTominay will rest for two weeks and then resume training.”
Napoli will also be without Luca Marianucci, who picked up a knee injury during pre-season and faces a spell on the sidelines.
Giovane underwent a hernia procedure earlier in the summer and is also sidelined, while Alessandro Buongiorno is unavailable due to a knee injury.