Air Traffic Disruption Delays Arsenal's Champions League Trip to Napoli

Arsenal's preparations for their opening Champions League match against Napoli were disrupted on Tuesday when a UK air-traffic control problem severely delayed the team's flight to southern Italy. The Guardian reported that manager Mikel Arteta consequently cancelled his scheduled pre-match press conference at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

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Arteta and his players remained at Arsenal's training ground in Hertfordshire while they waited for the disruption to ease, having completed their normal morning session. Club sources said the delay did not change the team's planned schedule beyond a later-than-expected arrival at its Naples hotel.

UEFA agreed that Arsenal could miss the otherwise mandatory media appearance because of the travel problems. The same air-traffic disruption also affected supporters attempting to make the journey to Italy, according to The Guardian. No further alteration to Arsenal's match preparations was reported.

There was more positive squad news for Arsenal, with Jurriën Timber set to be included for the first time since the Champions League final defeat by Paris Saint-Germain on 30 May. The Netherlands defender has recovered from a groin injury that had troubled him since March and kept him out of the World Cup. Arteta had said before Sunday's victory over Chelsea that Timber was nearing a return.

Cristhian Mosquera remains unavailable because of a muscle problem. Seventeen-year-old defender Marli Salmon, who signed his first professional contract last month, has been selected in Arsenal's 23-player squad for the trip.

Napoli enter the tie after finishing second to Inter in Serie A last season and making a poor start to the current campaign under new manager Massimiliano Allegri. Kevin De Bruyne is expected to play, but Scott McTominay is unavailable after undergoing a successful procedure to address an irregular heartbeat. The report said the 29-year-old is expected to return to training in two weeks.

Former Fulham midfielder André-Frank Zambo Anguissa is also likely to miss the game for Napoli. The match will be Allegri's first in the Champions League for four years, with the Italian coach acknowledging the strength of Arteta's Arsenal side as Napoli seek to reverse their difficult opening to the season.