Arsenal's European Journey Begins in Naples

Arsenal head back into Europe this week with the familiar weight of expectation on their shoulders and a fresh scar still stinging.

Last season they were flawless in the league phase, eight wins from eight, swatting aside everything in front of them. Nobody beat them inside 90 minutes in the entire competition. They went all the way to the final in Budapest, dragged Paris Saint-Germain into a penalty shootout, and then watched the trophy slip away by the narrowest of margins.

Now the journey starts again, in Naples on Wednesday night, and Mikel Arteta knows he has the squad to attack it with full force – and to rotate without blinking.

Arteta ready to shuffle his pack

Arsenal arrive in Italy off the back of a statement win over Chelsea, but that match also underlined just how deep this squad runs. Bruno Guimaraes did not play a single minute, protected after carrying a knock, and that opens the door for Martin Zubimendi to step into midfield.

Zubimendi offers control, security, and a different rhythm in possession. In a hostile away tie to launch a European campaign, that profile becomes even more valuable.

Higher up the pitch, the competition is just as fierce. Eberechi Eze is pushing hard for a start on the left, his creativity and one‑v‑one ability giving Arteta a different look in wide areas. Through the middle, Viktor Gyokeres is waiting for his moment. The striker could be handed his first start of the season if Arteta decides to manage Kai Havertz’s minutes and keep his main man fresh for the long haul.

The message is clear: nobody’s place is untouchable.

Defensive reshuffle on the cards

At the back, the picture is more complicated. William Saliba remains a long-term absentee with a back injury, a loss that would have rattled previous Arsenal sides. This one has learned to absorb the blow.

Jurrien Timber has yet to play a minute this season but is edging closer to a return, a significant boost waiting just over the horizon. For now, though, Cristhian Mosquera is a doubt with a muscle problem, trimming Arteta’s options for Naples.

All of that points to Ezri Konsa continuing alongside Gabriel at centre-back, just as he did in the win over Chelsea on Sunday. Konsa’s calm presence and Gabriel’s aggression have started to form a reliable pairing at a crucial time.

If Arteta does tweak his defence, it is most likely to be at left-back. Riccardo Calafiori has been outstanding in the early weeks of the campaign, energetic and assured, but his Arsenal career has already been punctured by injuries. That history will weigh on any decision over his workload.

Piero Hincapie, the only defender on the bench against Chelsea, stands ready. With the schedule tightening and the stakes rising, there is every chance he steps in from the start in Naples.

Arsenal know the route, they know the pain of falling just short, and they know what it will take to go one better. The question now is whether this deeper, tougher, more seasoned squad can turn last season’s near-miss into something far more lasting.