Arsenal's European Journey Begins in Naples

Arsenal’s road back to the summit of Europe starts in Naples, with the memory of Budapest still stinging.

Last season, the Gunners were flawless through the league phase, winning all eight of their matches. Nobody beat them inside 90 minutes in the entire competition. They went toe to toe with Paris Saint-Germain in the final, dragged the game all the way to penalties, and then watched the trophy slip away in the cruelest fashion.

Now comes the sequel.

Arteta ready to lean on depth

The campaign begins again on Wednesday night in Naples, and Mikel Arteta is expected to tap into the full weight of his squad. This is not a team of 11 any more; it is a squad built for rotation, for nights exactly like this.

Bruno Guimaraes did not feature at all against Chelsea in Arsenal’s last outing, still nursing a knock. That opens the door for Martin Zubimendi to anchor the midfield, a like-for-like switch that keeps the structure intact but adds fresh legs in the middle of the pitch.

Ahead of him, there could be more change. Eberechi Eze is pushing hard for a start on the left wing, desperate for a bigger role after watching on at the weekend. In attack, Viktor Gyokeres is in line for his first start of the season if Arteta decides to carefully manage Kai Havertz’s minutes. The German has carried a heavy load already; this schedule does not forgive tired bodies.

Defensive juggling act

At the back, the picture is more complicated. William Saliba remains a long-term absentee with a back injury, a void that has forced Arteta to improvise at the heart of defence. Jurrien Timber has yet to play a single minute this season but is edging closer to a return, while Cristhian Mosquera is a doubt with a muscle problem.

All of that points to Ezri Konsa once again partnering Gabriel, just as he did in the win over Chelsea on Sunday. That pairing brought stability at the weekend and, for now, looks like the safest option on a high-stakes European night.

If Arteta tweaks anything, it is most likely to be at left-back. Riccardo Calafiori has been outstanding in the opening weeks of the season, a revelation down that flank. But his Arsenal career has already been punctuated by injury issues, and the staff know they cannot burn him out this early.

That is where Piero Hincapie comes in. He was the only defender named on the bench against Chelsea, a clear sign of the thin numbers at the back. With rotation almost a necessity, there is every chance he steps into the starting XI in Naples, tasked with protecting Arsenal’s left side on the first night of another European charge.

The perfect league phase is gone, the penalty heartbreak is fixed in memory. Now Arsenal have to prove they can go one step further – starting in a stadium that rarely forgives hesitation.