Napoli vs Arsenal

Napoli's hopes of making a strong start to their Champions League campaign could be complicated by the absence of Scott McTominay, whose influence in midfield has been particularly important to the Italian side. Without him, Napoli may lack some of the energy, physicality and defensive protection they rely on, while their recent defensive struggles against Inter have highlighted weaknesses that an Arsenal side in confident attacking form will be eager to exploit.

Arsenal, meanwhile, arrive with renewed confidence after showing shades of the free-flowing attacking football that made them so dangerous during the 2022-23 and 2023-24 campaigns. Mikel Arteta's men have plenty of options in both midfield and attack, allowing them to maintain a high level of intensity even when changes are required. That depth could prove especially valuable in what should be a demanding Champions League encounter.

Napoli will have the advantage of playing in front of a passionate home crowd and should create their own opportunities, particularly if Arsenal leave spaces behind when committing numbers forward. However, their defensive vulnerabilities could ultimately be their downfall. Arsenal have enough creativity and attacking quality to punish mistakes, while Arteta's tactical flexibility should allow his side to adapt if Napoli make the game difficult.

We expect Arsenal to take advantage of Napoli's midfield absences and defensive concerns to kickstart their Champions League campaign with an important victory. The hosts should make this a competitive contest, but the Gunners' superior depth, attacking options and current momentum should give them the edge. Arteta's men are backed to return to London with all three points.