Arsenal Begins European Campaign in Naples
Arsenal return to Europe this week with a familiar weight on their shoulders and a fresh edge to their squad.
Last season they tore through the league phase, winning all eight of their matches. Nobody beat them in 90 minutes in the entire competition. They went all the way to the final in Budapest, took Paris Saint-Germain to penalties, and still walked away with nothing but regret.
Now the climb starts again, in Naples on Wednesday night.
Arteta ready to rotate in Naples
Mikel Arteta knows this route too well to ignore the demands it places on his players. With a deep, powerful squad at his disposal, the Arsenal manager is expected to shuffle his pack for the opening game of this new campaign.
The headline decision may come in midfield. Bruno Guimaraes did not play a single minute in the win over Chelsea, still nursing a knock, and his place is at risk. Martin Zubimendi is waiting, sharp and ready, and could be drafted into the starting XI to anchor the middle of the pitch.
Higher up the field, the competition tightens. Eberechi Eze is pushing hard for a start on the left, sensing an opening to make this European run his stage. Through the middle, Viktor Gyokeres is in line for his first start of the season if Arteta decides Kai Havertz needs his minutes managed after a heavy early workload.
Defensive juggling act
At the back, Arsenal’s options remain powerful but not complete.
William Saliba is still out with a long-term back injury, a problem that continues to reshape Arteta’s defensive plans. Jurrien Timber has yet to play a minute this season, though his return is edging closer. Cristhian Mosquera, meanwhile, is a doubt with a muscle issue that leaves his involvement in Naples uncertain.
All of that points towards stability in the centre. Ezri Konsa is expected to line up alongside Gabriel again after starting in the win over Chelsea on Sunday. They looked assured there, and Arteta is unlikely to tamper with a pairing that just delivered in a major domestic test.
If there is to be a change, it should come at left-back. Riccardo Calafiori has been outstanding in the opening weeks of the season, bringing balance and aggression to Arsenal’s build-up. But his Arsenal career has already been punctured by fitness concerns, and the staff are wary of overloading him so early.
That opens the door for Piero Hincapie. The Ecuadorian was the only defender named on the bench against Chelsea, a clear sign of how stretched the back line was. In Naples, he has every chance of stepping in from the start, giving Calafiori a breather and adding his own edge to a defence that will be tested from the first whistle.
Arsenal came within a penalty shootout of glory last season. Now the question hangs over this trip to Naples: is this the campaign they finally turn promise into a trophy?
