Mikel Arteta has made four changes for Arsenal's opening Champions League match against Napoli this evening.

The Gunners won all eight of their league phase matches last season and were not beaten in 90 minutes across the whole competition.

They took Paris Saint-Germain to a penalty shootout in the final in Budapest, only to fall just short.

The bid to go one better begins in Naples on Wednesday night and Arteta is likely to opt for changes and make use of his incredibly strong squad.

Bruno Guimaraes did not play a minute against Chelsea in Arsenal's last match after carrying a knock and so Mikel Merino comes into the midfield instead.

Further forward, Eberechi Eze get his chance on the left wing and Viktor Gyokeres is handed a first start of the season as Arteta opts to manage Kai Havertz's minutes.

There are more limited options for Arteta in defence, where injury concerns persist.

William Saliba remains a long-term absentee with a back injury. Jurrien Timber has not played a minute this season but is nearing a return, while Cristhian Mosquera is absent again due to a muscle problem.

It means Ezri Konsa start alongside Gabriel, as he did in the win over Chelsea on Sunday.

The change comes at left-back. Riccardo Calafiori has been superb in the early weeks of the season but has struggled with injuries in his Arsenal career, so there is caution with his workload.

Piero Hincapie was Arsenal's only defender on the bench against Chelsea and he comes in to start in Naples.

Raya, White, Konsa, Gabriel, Hincapie, Merino, Rice, Odegaard, Saka, Eze, Gyokeres.

Arrizabalaga, Meslier, Calafiori, Salmon, Lewis-Skelly, Zubimendi, Guimaraes, Tzolis, Madueke, Dowman, Havertz.

Time and date: 8pm BST on Wednesday September 9, 2026

: Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, Naples

How to watch: TNT Sports