Arsenal have avoided a UEFA fine after travel chaos forced the cancellation of their mandatory pre-match press conference ahead of the Champions League opener against Napoli. Severe flight delays, caused by a widespread technical problem with UK air traffic control systems, meant the squad could not reach Italy in time for the scheduled media event on Tuesday.
This news comes as Mikel Arteta's side sits second in the Premier League with a perfect record of three wins from three games. They have scored six goals and conceded just one, building strong momentum ahead of their European campaign. The club's next domestic fixture is an away trip to face Sunderland on September 12, a match you can find on our fixtures page.
Why was Arsenal's press conference cancelled?
Arsenal's travel plans were thrown into disarray by a major technical failure affecting London airports. The team typically flies to European matches from Luton Airport, which was among the hubs impacted. UEFA regulations state that clubs may only alter their matchday-minus-one plans due to force majeure and with the governing body's agreement. A UEFA spokesperson confirmed the stance, saying, "Clubs may only change their MD-1 plans on account of force majeure and with the agreement of UEFA." The Daily Mirror Football reported that the issue was deemed beyond the club's control, leading UEFA to waive the usual financial penalty for missing the media obligation.
Has this happened to other clubs before?
Liverpool faced a similar situation in a previous Champions League campaign. They also avoided a fine after a flight delay caused by a technical issue with their aircraft ahead of a match against Eintracht Frankfurt. Interestingly, Liverpool went on to win that match 5-1, with goals from Hugo Ekitike, Virgil van Dijk, Ibrahima Konate, Cody Gakpo, and Dominik Szoboszlai. This precedent likely helped Arsenal's case, demonstrating that unforeseen travel disruptions are a valid reason for schedule changes under UEFA's force majeure provisions.
What is Arsenal's recent Champions League form?
Arsenal enter the 2026-27 tournament on the back of a heartbreaking finish last season. They reached the final of the 2025-26 Champions League, only to lose to Paris Saint-Germain in a penalty shootout. Their group stage performance that year was historically dominant, winning all eight matches while scoring 23 goals and conceding just four. The first-team squad's strong domestic start, detailed in our standings, suggests they are well-prepared for another deep European run.
Who else is in Arsenal's Champions League group this season?
The 2026-27 group stage presents a formidable challenge. Arsenal have been drawn alongside Napoli, Lille, Bayern Munich, Slavia Prague, Borussia Dortmund, Real Madrid, Real Betis, and Sabah. The opening match against Napoli on September 9 kicks off this demanding schedule. Fans can watch the match live on TNT Sports, available via HBO Max or Prime Video's TNT Sports channel. With such a packed calendar, managing the squad's fitness will be key, and supporters can track the available players on our squad page. The team travels to face Sunderland in the Premier League just three days after the Napoli clash.
