Napoli without McTominay and five other key first team stars ahead of Arsenal clash | OneFootball

Napoli will have to do without Scott McTominay for their first Champions League match of the 2026-27 season at home against Arsenal on Wednesday evening, but according to the latest updates on Tuesday morning, Massimiliano Allegri has two new issues to deal with.

Napoli add Anguissa and Neres to list of injury concerns ahead of Arsenal

Napoli’s 2026-27 Champions League campaign gets underway with a visit from Arsenal on Wednesday evening, but there will be no McTominay against the reigning Premier League champions, as he is expected to have a minor procedure carried out on his heart on Tuesday.

NAPLES, ITALY – AUGUST 30: Scott McTominay of Napoli is challenged by Lucas Da Cunha of Como during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and Como 1907 at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on August 30, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

The Partenopei have also been without Italy international centre-back Alessandro Buongiorno for the start of the 2026-27 season and he will also not be able to feature against Arsenal on Wednesday. Luca Marianucci and Giovane are also out longer term.

According to the latest updates on Tuesday, Allegri has two new injury concerns to contend with ahead of the visit from Arsenal, as neither Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa nor David Neres participated in training with the rest of the first-team group this morning.

This means that both are now extremely unlikely to be included in the starting line-up to face Arsenal on Wednesday if they are even able to feature at all.

NAPLES, ITALY – OCTOBER 25: Frank Zambo Anguissa of SSC Napoli celebrates after scoring his side third goal during the Serie A match between SSC Napoli and FC Internazionale at Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on October 25, 2025 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images)

Neres has featured off the bench in both of Napoli’s most recent Serie A matches, both of which ended in defeats against Como and Inter.

Anguissa is the bigger concern given that he has started in all three of Napoli’s league matches so far this season and is a mainstay in the Partenopei midfield when fit and available.

MILAN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 05: Massimiliano Allegri, Manager of Napoli, reacts during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and SSC Napoli at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on September 05, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)

With no McTominay and likely no Anguissa either, Allegri will be increasingly reliant on Stanislav Lobotka in the centre of midfield. It is also likely that Kevin De Bruyne is brought into the side for his first start of the 2026-27 season against Arsenal on Wednesday. Billy Gilmour and Antonio Vergara are the most likely candidates to complete the midfield three.