McTominay's heart surgery and Saliba absence headline seven injury concerns for Napoli vs Arsenal

Scott McTominay will miss Napoli’s Champions League opener against Arsenal after undergoing a successful ablation procedure for a minor heart problem at Spire Manchester Hospital, the Serie A club confirmed in an official statement on Tuesday. The former Manchester United midfielder is expected to rest for two weeks before returning to training, ruling him out of the September 9 fixture in Naples.

“On Tuesday morning, Scott McTominay underwent an ablation procedure at Spire Manchester Hospital. The operation was a complete success,” Napoli said. “McTominay will rest for two weeks and then resume training.”

The Scottish international is not the only absentee for the hosts. Luca Marianucci sustained a knee injury during pre-season and remains on the treatment table, Giovane is still recovering from a hernia operation carried out earlier in the summer, and Alessandro Buongiorno is also unavailable, leaving Napoli short-handed at the back for the visit of Mikel Arteta’s side.

Arsenal arrive in Campania carrying their own injury concerns. William Saliba has yet to feature this season after picking up a back injury while on international duty with France during the summer, and there is no firm return date for the centre-back. Jurrien Timber is similarly yet to play a competitive minute for the Gunners this campaign following minor surgery in the off-season, though Arteta offered an encouraging update on the Dutchman’s progress last week.

“He’s in really good condition at the moment, he’s been a few weeks on the pitch and has been training with us, so he’s in a really good place,” the Arsenal manager said.

Cristhian Mosquera is another doubt after sitting out Arsenal’s Premier League win over Chelsea at the weekend with a muscular issue. Arteta suggested the decision was largely precautionary, saying: “We think it is not too much, but we need to wait and see in the next few days how it evolves.”

Arsenal’s history in Naples is mixed. Arteta was sent off the last time the club played there, a 2-0 Champions League defeat in December 2013 when Gonzalo Higuain and Jose Callejon scored for Rafael Benítez’s side. However, Unai Emery guided the Gunners to a 1-0 Europa League semi-final win in the city in 2019, giving Arsenal a more recent positive reference point as they open their 2024-25 Champions League campaign.