So much has changed since Arsenal's last meeting with Napoli

Arsenal have discovered their fate for this season's Champions League league phase and among the eight matches they will play is a trip to face Serie A side Napoli.

The Gunners have met the four-time Italian champions in four matches, winning three and losing one of the encounters. New manager Massimiliano Allegri will be eager to send a statement against Mikel Arteta and his side as they look to reach the knockout stages after failing to do so last campaign.

The last clash between the two sides came over seven years ago and it's safe to say that so much has changed for both clubs since then.

So much has changed since Arsenal's last meeting with Napoli

Arsenal last faced Napoli in a Europa League quarter-finals during the 2018/19 edition of Europe's second tier competition. Then led by Unai Emery, the North Londoners won 2-0 in the first leg with a goal from Aaron Ramsey and Kalidou Koulibaly converting into his own net setting them on their way.

A second leg trip to Stadio San Paolo was always going to be tough, but in their latest meeting with Gli Azzurri, the Gunners won 1-0 to ease into the semi-finals and it was Alexandre Lacazette who grabbed the winner. The Frenchman struck a free kick from range to beat Alex Meret and fire his side to the last four.

Fastforward seven years and both clubs find themselves in completely different situations to what they were in at the point of that result.

Emery's side went on to finish fifth in the Premier League and reach the final of the Europa League, but lost 4-1 to London rivals Chelsea to miss out on qualifying for the Champions League.

There was plenty of change in the months after as Emery was sacked following an abysmal start to the campaign which led to Arteta being appointed as Arsenal's manager, which set the club on a transitional journey that has ended in them being Premier League champions and European contenders.

In the Spaniard's first two seasons, his side finished eighth before managing a fifth-place finish in the 2021/22 campaign, narrowly missing out on the top four. Then after over a decade of no serious title challenges, the Gunners began the 2022/23 season brilliantly and found themselves top of the table for most of the term, but a number of dips in form led to Manchester City taking the title.

The same happened the following year as Arsenal just lost out on the prize to City once again, finishing two points behind Pep Guardiola's side as they fell short on the final day. The 2024/25 season saw the North Londoners finish second for a third consecutive campaign, but there was plenty of progress in Europe as they reached the semi-finals of the Champions League.

The Gunners went one better in both competitions last year, finally ending their long wait to win the league title and losing to Paris Saint-Germain in a penalty shootout in the Champions League final.

In the seven years since, Arsenal's luck has changed dramatically. There was never any real hope of Emery leading the North Londoners to glory, but Arteta coming in completely altered the club's trajectory. He rebuilt the squad and created a new desire to play for the Gunners as well as putting them back among those winning silverware and helping them challenge for Europe again. Long may it continue.

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