Napoli vs Arsenal Preview: Team News, Injury Updates, Match Facts And Prediction

Arsenal players have already arrived in Italy for the big game against Napoli tonight. All they need to do is to avoid a big-margin defeat to qualify for the knock out stages of the competition.

When these two teams faced earlier, Arsenal won the game in dominating fashion with goals from Ozil and  Olivier Giroud.

Team News & Injury News

Bacary Sagna is still injured and German forward Lukas Podolski is back to full fitness but still is a doubt for the game. Theo Walcott who is yet to start a game after his injury may feature in the starting lineup tonight. Speedster will replace Jack Wilshere who picked up an ankle knock during Everton game. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Diaby are the long-term absentees.

For Napoli, thier top playmaker Marek Hamsik remains sidelined along with rightback Camilo Zuniga.

Possible starting lineups

Napoli: Rafael; Maggio, Fernandez, Albiol, Reveillere; Dzemaili, Pandev, Inler, Callejon, Insigne; Higuain

Arsenal: Szczesny; Jenkinson, Koscielny, Mertesacker, Gibbs; Walcott, Arteta, Ozil, Ramsey, Cazorla; Giroud

Match Facts

• Napoli target man Gonzalo Higuaín has never scored against an English team in the Champions League.
• Napoli have not drawn a game over their last 18 fixtures in European competition.
• Arsenal are on course to reach the knockout stage of the Champions League for the 11th season in a row.
• Arsene Wenger’s side were defeated 4-0 in their last trip to Italy (vs AC Milan in February 2012) – overall their record in Italy in the Champions League is W3 D3 L3.
• The Gunners have won five of their last six Champions League fixtures between this and last season.

Facts courtesy: Yahoo Sport

Recent form

Napoli: WLLLWD

Arsenal: LWWWWD

Prediction

Napoli will attack the gunners from the word go. This will allow gaps in the field which Arsenal can take advantage of during counter attacks especially with Theo Walcott in the side.

Napoli 2 Arsenal 1