Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta selects experienced lineup for Napoli Champions League match

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta opted for an experienced starting XI during the club's Champions League fixture against Napoli at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona. Despite having access to several young prospects, including Max Dowman, Myles Lewis-Skelly, and Cristhian Mosquera, Arteta relied on veteran players for the contest. The lineup featured 30-year-old starters Mikel Merino and David Raya, marking a departure from the club's recent reliance on younger talent. The selection represents the oldest starting squad fielded by an Arsenal manager since the tenure of Arsène Wenger. The match remains ongoing as the club balances its youth development policy with the immediate requirements of European competition. Club management continues to weigh the integration of academy products against the need for established experience on the continental stage.

• 6:57 PMYahoo Sports — Arsenal lean on rare experience in Champions League outing 👴