Napoli vs Arsenal: Team News, Match Preview & Like Line-Ups

by Jamie Clark

Arsenal simply need to avoid a three-goal defeat in Naples to secure qualification to the Champions League knockout stages. Only a win for Napoli is enough else they will have to settle the Europa League.

The Gunners can guarantee they top Group F with a point against Rafa Benitez's side. Arsene Wenger already has a home win over Napoli to his credit in the reverse fixture on matchday two. Mesut Ozil and Olivier Giroud were on target for Arsenal that night on 1 October with early goals.

Team News

Benitez is sweating on the fitness of on-loan goalkeeper Pepe Reina after he missed Napoli's 3-3 weekend draw with Udinese because of an unspecified muscle problem. Swiss utility man Valon Behrami, once of West Ham, is also doubtful. Slovakia national skipper Marek Hamsik is definitely out for the hosts with a foot injury.

Gunners right back Bacary Sagna is still recovering from a hamstring problem, so this game comes too quickly for him. Carl Jenkinson is expected to continue in defence and other changes may be kept to a minimum. Wenger could give Theo Walcott a first start since recovering from injury.

Source: BBC

Likely Line-Ups

Napoli: 25 Pepe Reina/1 Rafael Cabral, 11 Christian Maggio, 33 Raul Albiol, 21 Federico Fernandez, 27 Pablo Armero, 88 Gokhan Inler, 20 Blerim Dzemaili, 7 Jose Callejon, 19 Goran Pandev, 24 Lorenzo Insigne/14 Dries Mertens, 9 Gonazlo Higuain 4-2-3-1

Arsenal: 1 Wojciech Szczesny, 25 Carl Jenkinson, 4 Per Metresacker, 6 Laurent Kosicleny, 28 Kieran Gibbs, 8 Mikel Arteta, 16 Aaron Ramsey, 10 Jack Wilshere/14 Theo Walcott, 11 Mesut Ozil, 19 Santi Cazorla/7 Tomas Rosicky, 12 Olivier Giroud 4-2-3-1

Contributor
Contributor

Jamie Clark is a qualified Web Journalist after undergoing professional training at the University of Sheffield. A prolific and accredited sports writer, he also enjoys classic comedy, historic fiction, 80s music and heritage.