Napoli boss Allegri reveals midfield crisis ahead of Champions League clash with Arsenal

Massimiliano Allegri will not change his tactics for Napoli's Champions League opener, despite revealing he only has four of his first-choice midfielders available to face Arsenal.

Napoli welcome the Premier League champions to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona on Wednesday, aiming to improve on last season's disappointing campaign in Europe. 

Under the management of Antonio Conte, Napoli exited the Champions League at the first hurdle, finishing 30th in the league phase after collecting just eight points. 

This will be the fifth meeting between Napoli and Arsenal, and the first since the 2018-19 Europa League quarter-finals. The Gunners have won three of the last four (L1), keeping a clean sheet in all three victories. 

Napoli have, however, only lost three of their 13 home games against English sides in major European competitions (W8 D2), though they are without several key players. 

Scott McTominay is out after undergoing successful heart surgery, and Allegri has confirmed Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa will also be unavailable after sustaining an injury. 

"Absolutely not, there will not be a change of system," Allegri told reporters when asked whether his absent midfielders warranted a change in formation. 

"As you know, McTominay had an operation this morning, but we've also lost Anguissa, who had an adductor problem today.

"It's a question mark for David Neres too. We'll see if his knee is still bothering him tomorrow morning, because he might be out too.

"I've only got four midfielders, so three of them will start tomorrow."

Napoli have lost just two of their last 21 home Champions League games (W12 D7), though they did lose their most recent in January, 3-2 to Chelsea.

Despite playing 37 Champions League or European Cup home matches in total, Napoli have never suffered successive defeats on home soil.

But Allegri's side do approach Wednesday's clash on the back of consecutive defeats in Serie A, with their latest coming in dramatic fashion against champions Inter. 

Matteo Politano and Rasmus Hojlund had put Napoli into a two-goal lead by the 53rd minute, only for Crisitan Chivu's side to turn the game on its head.

A Lautaro Martinez-inspired turnaround sealed a 3-2 success for Inter, as Napoli lost a Serie A match after being two goals ahead for only the second time in their history.

"Tomorrow is a different competition from Serie A, a sort of mini-league, where we need 12 points to secure qualification for the next round," Allegri added. 

"Arsenal are the vice-champions of Europe, won the Premier League, and Mikel Arteta has done an extraordinary job in the last four years.

"We know the difficulties of this match, which we must go into with pride and the desire to do well."

Allegri was also asked about the possible involvement of Kevin De Bruyne, who endured an injury-hit 2025-26 campaign and has played a substitute role so far this term. 

The Manchester City legend has been directly involved in 12 goals in his last 17 starts against Arsenal across all competitions (eight goals, four assists), including five in his most recent three (three goals, two assists).

"He is an extraordinary player, who only arrived to work with us on August 5, but he will probably be ready to play tomorrow," Allegri said of De Bruyne.