Scott McTominay Misses Napoli's Champions League Opener Against Arsenal
Scott McTominay has undergone minor heart surgery and will miss Napoli’s Champions League opener against Arsenal at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.
The Scotland international, who has already started two Serie A games this season, had the procedure on Monday, September 7 in England to correct what Napoli described as “a mild benign arrhythmia” – an irregular heartbeat the club has stressed is non-serious.
Napoli had long planned the operation with the midfielder, and the timing means he will sit out Arsenal’s visit, denying the Italians one of their key driving forces in midfield as last season’s beaten finalists begin another tilt at the Champions League.
No McTominay for Arsenal clash
Napoli will not consider McTominay for selection this week. The club’s initial statement made it clear he would only be available again after the upcoming international break, shutting the door on any late push to feature against Mikel Arteta’s side.
McTominay himself tried to calm concerns when he addressed supporters on Instagram last week, telling them: “I won’t take long.” At an awards ceremony in Italy, he struck the same reassuring tone, saying: “I’m fine, the procedure was something I’d planned to do with the club for quite a while.”
Behind the scenes, Napoli have mapped out a strict return plan. Sporting director Giovanni Manna explained to DAZN that the 27-year-old will be sidelined for around four weeks while he takes anticoagulant medication.
“It will take 28 days for (McTominay to return to) sporting fitness because he will take anticoagulant drugs,” Manna said. “For two weeks, the player will rest and then resume competitive activity without contact.”
Anticoagulants – blood thinners – are used to reduce the risk of blood clots, and their use dictates that McTominay avoids physical contact work until the course has taken effect.
Scotland also count the cost
That four-week window stretches beyond club football. McTominay is now expected to miss Scotland’s entire upcoming Nations League programme in the international break, a run of four fixtures against Switzerland, North Macedonia and a double-header with Slovenia.
The Scottish national team moved quickly to back one of their key figures, issuing a message of support once the surgery was confirmed: “Wishing you all the best in your recovery, Scott. Hope to see you back in a Scotland shirt soon.”
For Arsenal, his absence strips some steel from Napoli’s midfield on opening night. The Gunners, though, still face a serious test in the centre of the pitch against a home side able to call on a formidable pairing in the fit-again Kevin De Bruyne and Billy Gilmour.
Napoli lose one weapon for now. The real question is how sharp McTominay will be when he finally returns to a season already in full sprint.
