Arsenal's Champions League opener against Napoli was disrupted by a UK air traffic control fault, delaying their flight to Italy. The team's arrival in Naples was pushed to 9:30 p.m. local time, forcing the cancellation of their pre-match news conference and media duties at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, per UEFA rules.

Despite the setback, sources told ESPN the squad remained unaffected, staying at their training ground near London Luton Airport while awaiting a new departure time. Defender Cristhian Mosquera stayed behind due to a muscle injury from the Aug. 31 Premier League win over Aston Villa, but Jurriën Timber traveled with the group and could make his first appearance since the Champions League final in May.

The air traffic issue also hit London Heathrow and Gatwick, with passengers advised to check flight statuses. Nats, the provider, said it was investigating and fixing the problem. Arsenal, aiming to improve on last season's runner-up finish, face a tough league phase schedule including Lille, Bayern Munich, Slavia Prague, Borussia Dortmund, and Real Madrid after Napoli.