[Teams] Napoli vs Arsenal: Confirmed line-ups for Champions League clash

Arsenal kick-off their Champions League campaign with a tough clash against Napoli at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona this evening.

The Gunners have started the new season well having won each of our three Premier League matches so far while we also lifted the Community Shield with a win over Manchester City.

Mikel Arteta will now be hoping to transfer that form to Europe when Arsenal take on Napoli tonight. The Spanish boss has made four changes to the starting eleven that beat Chelsea on Sunday but goalkeeper David Raya is among those who keep their places.

Piero Hincapie is recalled to make his first start of the season with Riccardo Calafiori making way. Gabriel Magalhaes line-up in the middle of Arsenal’s defence once again and he’s joined by Ezri Konsa following his superb display against Chelsea. Konsa continues to deputise for William Saliba and Cristhian Mosquera – who are both out injured.

Ben White starts at right-back for the fourth consecutive game as Jurrien Timber isn’t risked just yet despite returning to full training following a lengthy injury lay-off.

Myles Lewis-Skelly is rested but Martin Zubimendi still has to wait for a recall while Bruno Guimarães is also not deemed ready to make his full debut. Therefore, Declan Rice drops back into the No.6 role for Arsenal tonight.

That makes room for Mikel Merino to be recalled to make his first start of the season. Martin Odegaard captains the Gunners once again tonight and he’ll be hoping to build on his early-season form.

Bukayo Saka starts once again on the right-wing with Noni Madeuke and Max Dowman among the subs. There is a change on the opposite flank as Eberechi Eze comes in for Christos Tzolis while Viktor Gyokeres is handed a recall to start up front.

The Swedish international has found minutes hard to come by so far this season so he’ll be hoping to make a good impression. Kai Havertz is given a rest as he drops to the bench tonight.

Here are the confirmed line-ups:

Napoli

Meret; Di Lorenzo, Rrahmani, Rafa Marin, Olivera; Gilmour, Lobotka, De Bruyne; Politano, Hojlund, Alisson Santos.

Subs: Contini, Milinkovic-Savic, Favasuli, Badiashile, Neres, Lucca, Vergara, Beukema, Spinazzola

Arsenal

Raya; White, Konsa, Gabriel, Hincapie; Rice, Merino; Saka, Odegaard, Eze; Gyokeres.

Subs: Arrizabalaga, Meslier, Tzolis, Madueke, Havertz, Calafiori, Zubimendi, Guimarães, Lewis-Skelly, Dowman, Salmon.