Flight Delays Disrupt Arsenal: Champions League Pre-Match Press Conference Cancelled

Before Arsenal's Champions League opener away against Napoli, the team's pre-match press conference was cancelled because a technical failure in the UK air traffic control system caused widespread flight delays.

Travel plans disrupted

Manager Mikel Arteta was scheduled to attend the press conference in Naples, Italy, with defender Riccardo Calafiori on Tuesday evening, but widespread disruption at UK airports caused by the air traffic control system failure led to the cancellation of the pre-match media event. The entire Arsenal squad remained at the club's training base during the delay before later heading to the airport. As a result, the team was not expected to arrive in Naples until 9:30 p.m. local time (8:30 p.m. British Summer Time).

Injuries and squad situation

This is Arsenal's first return to European competition since losing the Champions League final on penalties to Paris Saint-Germain last season. Defender Jurrien Timber travelled with the squad and is close to returning from injury. The 25-year-old Dutch defender has not played since appearing as a substitute in that defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. He underwent groin surgery in the summer and consequently missed the World Cup. Before Sunday's 2-1 Premier League win over Chelsea, Arteta said Timber was in very good condition and had been training with the team for several weeks.

However, the availability of another defender, Cristhian Mosquera, for the match against Napoli remains uncertain. He suffered a muscle injury against Aston Villa and missed the match against Chelsea. Apart from the injured William Saliba, the 22-year-old was the only Arsenal first-team player not to take part in training on Tuesday.

Recent form of both teams

Defending Premier League champions Arsenal began the new season with three consecutive wins, defeating Coventry, Villa and Chelsea, and also beat Manchester City 3-0 in the Community Shield. Napoli's start has been more difficult. Massimiliano Allegri's side won 2-0 away at Genoa in the opening round before suffering consecutive defeats to Como and Serie A defending champions Inter Milan.

Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay will miss this match after undergoing corrective surgery for a minor heart issue. The club's official website update said McTominay underwent an ablation procedure at Manchester's Spire Hospital on Tuesday morning. The surgery was completely successful, and he will rest for two weeks before returning to training.

Youth academy signing

Meanwhile, Arsenal have signed 16-year-old forward Myles Bernard from Crystal Palace as part of the first-year scholarship programme for the 2026-27 season. Bernard scored more than 40 goals for Crystal Palace's academy last season and will sign a professional contract with the Gunners when he turns 17.