Arsenal Flight Delayed for Champions League Opener Against Napoli

Arsenal's travel plans for their Champions League opener were disrupted by a technical problem at Nats, delaying their arrival in Naples until 9:30 p.m. local time.

A technical failure within the UK’s air traffic control provider, Nats, has significantly delayed Arsenal’s flight to Italy for their Champions League opener against Napoli. According to ESPN, the squad is now expected to arrive in Naples at approximately 9:30 p.m. local time (8:30 p.m. BST). Consequently, UEFA has cancelled the club's scheduled news conference and media activities at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

Players and coaching staff remained at their training ground near London Luton Airport while awaiting confirmation of their departure time. Sources told ESPN that the delay has not unduly affected the group. While the team waits, Nats confirmed it is investigating a fault within its flight processing system that has also caused severe disruptions at London Heathrow and Gatwick airports.

Defensive rotations for the upcoming fixture include the return of Jurriën Timber, who traveled with Mikel Arteta’s squad and could make his first appearance since the Champions League final in May. However, Cristhian Mosquera did not travel as he recovers from a muscular injury sustained during the 2-0 Premier League victory over Aston Villa on August 31. Following the match in Naples, Arsenal’s league phase schedule includes fixtures against Lille, Bayern Munich, Slavia Prague, Borussia Dortmund, and Real Madrid.