Head-to-Head Summary
Napoli and Arsenal have met only four times competitively, so there is no genuine last-10 record.
Arsenal have won three of the four meetings. Napoli have won once, with no draws. The Gunners have scored five goals compared with Napoli's two.
Their first two meetings came in the 2013/14 Champions League group stage. Both were won 2-0 by the home side. They met again in the 2018/19 Europa League quarter-finals, when Arsenal won both legs without conceding.
That gives Arsenal the stronger historical record, but the two matches played in Naples have been split. Napoli won 2-0 in 2013 before Arsenal returned six years later and won 1-0.
The H2H therefore favors Arsenal overall without suggesting that playing at the Maradona has been easy for them.
All 4 Previous Meetings
April 18, 2019 — Europa League quarter-final: Napoli 0-1 Arsenal
April 11, 2019 — Europa League quarter-final: Arsenal 2-0 Napoli
December 11, 2013 — Champions League group stage: Napoli 2-0 Arsenal
October 1, 2013 — Champions League group stage: Arsenal 2-0 Napoli
Arsenal's 2019 performance is the most relevant historical result. They arrived in Naples protecting a 2-0 first-leg lead but still won the return fixture 1-0, completing a 3-0 aggregate victory.
There has never been a draw between the teams. Three of the four games also ended with one side keeping a clean sheet. However, seven years have passed since their last meeting, and both squads have changed substantially. Current form deserves more weight than the older results.
Napoli Current Form
Napoli have played three competitive matches under Allegri this season.
Inter 3-2 Napoli
Napoli 1-2 Como
Genoa 0-2 Napoli
Their record is one win and two defeats, with five goals scored and five conceded.
The opening victory at Genoa was encouraging. Kevin De Bruyne broke the deadlock late before Antonio Vergara made it 2-0. Napoli had to remain patient but finished strongly.
The following two games revealed problems with game management.
Against Como, Napoli equalised through Rasmus Højlund but conceded again only four minutes later and eventually lost 2-1 at home. Allegri later highlighted his team's need to manage different phases of matches better.
That issue was even more obvious against Inter. Napoli led 2-0 after goals from Matteo Politano and Højlund, only to concede three times in the final 35 minutes and lose 3-2.
Napoli therefore have enough attacking quality to trouble Arsenal, but their inability to protect favorable situations is a concern against a team that controls matches as effectively as Arteta's side.
Arsenal Current Form
Arsenal have won all four of their competitive games this season.
Arsenal 2-1 Chelsea
Aston Villa 0-1 Arsenal
Arsenal 3-0 Coventry City
Arsenal 3-0 Manchester City — Community Shield
They have scored nine goals and conceded only one.
Their Premier League record is perfect: three wins from three, six goals scored and one conceded. Arsenal sit level with Manchester City on nine points at the top end of the table.
The Community Shield victory over Manchester City was an early indication of their level. Arsenal won 3-0, with Riccardo Calafiori, Kai Havertz and Martin Ødegaard scoring.
Their latest victory was arguably more informative. Chelsea scored inside two minutes at the Emirates, but Arsenal responded rather than losing control. Havertz equalised before Ødegaard completed the comeback in the second half.
Arsenal's defensive record is particularly important for this matchup. They kept clean sheets in their first three competitive games and have conceded only once all season.
Napoli Team News and Injuries
Scott McTominay will miss the match.
The midfielder underwent a successful procedure to correct a mild benign heart rhythm issue and is expected to remain out while he recovers. Napoli have indicated that he should return to training after a short recovery period.
His absence matters tactically. McTominay provides physicality, late runs into the penalty area and another aerial threat from midfield.
UEFA's latest team information lists no other Napoli players as doubtful for the Arsenal match.
De Bruyne is therefore a strong option to start alongside Stanislav Lobotka and Frank Anguissa in midfield.
Arsenal Team News and Injuries
William Saliba is ruled out because of a back injury.
Jurrien Timber is doubtful with a groin problem, while Cristhian Mosquera is also listed as doubtful because of an unspecified issue. Their availability could affect Arteta's defensive selection.
Ezri Konsa and Gabriel Magalhães are available and could form the central defensive partnership if Saliba remains absent as expected.
The key question is whether Arsenal's defensive structure remains as secure without Saliba. They have allowed only one goal this season, but Napoli's Højlund offers a different physical and running threat to the forwards Arsenal have faced domestically.
Tactical Match Analysis
Napoli have used a 4-3-3 in each of their three Serie A matches under Allegri. The midfield is central to their approach. Lobotka helps progress possession, Anguissa provides athleticism and De Bruyne can add vertical passing and creativity in McTominay's absence.
Højlund gives them a direct option through the middle. He has scored against both Como and Inter and can attack space behind Arsenal's defensive line.
Napoli's challenge will be maintaining control when Arsenal increase the pressure. Both of their defeats this season involved periods when the structure deteriorated quickly.
Arsenal are much more comfortable controlling territory. Declan Rice and Bruno Guimarães can give Arteta protection in central midfield, while Ødegaard moves into spaces between the opposition midfield and defence.
Bukayo Saka's battle on Arsenal's right could be especially important. If Napoli commit extra cover to stopping him, Ødegaard and the supporting full-back can exploit the resulting space.
Arsenal must still be careful when their full-backs advance. Napoli have Politano and other quick attackers capable of breaking into the channels, while Højlund can stretch the centre-backs.
Set pieces are another area where Arsenal can cause problems. Their delivery and aerial strength were major weapons during last season's Premier League title campaign, and Napoli cannot afford to give away unnecessary corners or wide free-kicks.
Key Players to Watch
Rasmus Højlund
Højlund has scored in each of Napoli's last two matches. His combination of pace and physical strength gives Napoli a way to attack directly if Arsenal push their defensive line high.
Kevin De Bruyne
With McTominay unavailable, De Bruyne could take on greater creative responsibility. He scored in the opening win at Genoa and remains capable of changing a game with one forward pass.
Kai Havertz
Havertz has started the season strongly and scored against both Manchester City and Chelsea. His movement is valuable because he can drop away from the centre-backs before making late runs into the penalty area.
Martin Ødegaard
Ødegaard has already scored against Manchester City and Chelsea. His ability to receive between the lines will be important if Napoli defend compactly around their own penalty area.
What the Numbers Tell Us
Arsenal have won three of the four previous competitive meetings.
Arsenal leads the H2H scoring record 5-2.
None of the four previous matches ended in a draw.
Arsenal have won all four competitive matches this season, scoring nine and conceding one.
Napoli have one win and two defeats, scoring five and conceding five.
Napoli have lost their last three Champions League matches against English opposition.
Arsenal have kept three clean sheets in four competitive matches this season.
Taken together, the numbers favor Arsenal. Their current defensive performance is much stronger, while Napoli have conceded five times across their last two games.
The biggest counterweight is the venue. Napoli have beaten Arsenal in Naples before, and their attack has scored in every game this season.
Who Has the Statistical Edge?
Arsenal have the statistical advantage.
The strongest evidence is current form. Arteta's team have won every competitive game and conceded only once. Napoli have lost their last two and allowed leads to disappear against both Como and Inter.
Arsenal also lead the historical matchup with three wins from four meetings and won on their most recent visit to Naples.
Napoli still have routes to hurt them. Saliba's absence weakens Arsenal's preferred defensive unit, while Højlund's movement and De Bruyne's passing can threaten the space behind the Gunners' back line.
A draw is possible, but the available numbers do not make it the strongest statistical outcome. None of the four previous meetings finished level, and current form gives Arsenal a more convincing case.
Home advantage keeps the matchup competitive, but Arsenal enter with the clearer edge.
Conclusion
Arsenal travel to Naples with stronger evidence behind them. They have won all four competitive matches this season, conceded only once and hold a 3-1 advantage in the four previous meetings with Napoli.
Napoli's start has been less convincing. They have scored five goals in three matches, but consecutive defeats to Como and Inter exposed problems controlling games after key moments.
McTominay's absence removes an important part of Napoli's midfield, while Arsenal must compensate for Saliba being unavailable.
The tactical contest should centre on whether Napoli can play through Arsenal's pressure and release Højlund before the visitors regain their defensive shape. If Arsenal establish their usual control, Napoli could struggle to sustain attacks.
The current numbers give Arsenal the statistical edge, although the venue and Napoli's attacking quality should prevent this from being treated as a routine away fixture.