Arsenal's preparations for their Champions League opener against Napoli have been thrown into disarray after a technical glitch at the UK's air traffic control provider, Nats, caused significant delays to their flight to Italy. The team was forced to wait at their London Colney training ground, located near Luton Airport, while the issue was being resolved.

According to sources, the delay is not expected to unduly affect the players, with coaches and support staff also staying behind. However, the disruption has led to the cancellation of their scheduled news conference and media activities at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona, in accordance with UEFA regulations. The team is now expected to arrive in Naples at approximately 9:30 p.m. local time, leaving little time to settle before the match.

In better news for the Gunners, defender Jurriën Timber has travelled with the squad and could make his first appearance since May's Champions League final. His return would be a timely boost for manager Mikel Arteta, who is without Cristhian Mosquera due to a muscular issue picked up in the Premier League win over Aston Villa on August 31.

The air traffic control problem has severely affected the UK's two largest airports, Heathrow and Gatwick, with both warning passengers of potential delays. Nats has stated it is investigating and working to fix the issue in its flight processing system. Arsenal's travel plans are just one of many impacted across the country.

Arsenal are aiming to go one better than last season and win the Champions League for the first time in their history. After facing Napoli, they will meet Lille, Bayern Munich, Slavia Prague, Borussia Dortmund, and Real Madrid in their league phase fixtures. The disrupted preparation is far from ideal, but Arteta's men will be determined to start their campaign with a positive result.

With the clock ticking, Arsenal's focus will be on ensuring the players are mentally and physically ready despite the logistical setback. The match against Napoli is crucial in setting the tone for their European campaign, and the team will need to adapt quickly to the circumstances.

Fans will be hoping that the travel chaos does not translate into on-field struggles. Arsenal's ability to overcome adversity could be tested early in this Champions League journey, but with a talented squad and a determined manager, they will be eager to prove their mettle.