Arsenal Cancels Napoli Press Conference Due to Travel Chaos
Arsenal’s Champions League return has hit an unexpected snag before a ball has even been kicked, with travel disruption forcing the club to cancel its pre-match press conference in Naples.
Mikel Arteta was due to face the media at 7:15 p.m. local time on Tuesday ahead of Wednesday’s clash with Napoli at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. Instead, his team spent the day tangled in the fallout from a major technical issue in the UK’s air traffic control system.
The malfunction triggered widespread delays and cancellations across hundreds of flights. Arsenal’s charter was among those affected, pushing the squad’s expected arrival in Naples back to around 9:30 p.m. local time, according to multiple reports. With the team landing more than two hours after Arteta was scheduled to speak, the press conference was quietly scrapped.
Under UEFA regulations, managers are normally obliged to address the media before Champions League fixtures. This time, common sense has prevailed. With the disruption deemed beyond Arsenal’s control, the club will not face any fine or disciplinary action.
Champions League campaign begins in Naples
Travel drama aside, the stakes on Wednesday night are clear. Arsenal open their Champions League campaign in Naples, with kickoff set for 9 p.m. local time at a stadium steeped in European history.
Arteta enters the season chasing the one prize that continues to elude the club. Arsenal came agonizingly close in 2025-26, reaching the Champions League final only to lose to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties. That shootout defeat still lingers.
Domestic frustration, though, finally broke last season. The Gunners ended a 22-year wait for a league crown, lifting the Premier League trophy for the first time since 2004 and restoring their status as champions of England.
They have carried that momentum into the new campaign. Three league games, three wins. A perfect start, and now a fresh test on the European stage.
The preparation has been far from ideal. The objective in Naples remains the same.
