Allegri prepares Napoli: 'It's rare to see Arsenal style of defending in England'
Quick summary
Napoli coach Massimiliano Allegri praised Arsenal's defensive approach ahead of a European fixture, calling it a rare style in English football.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceMax Allegri admits it is ‘rare to see an English team defend’ the way Arsenal do, and warns tactics will be ‘very important’ for Napoli in the Champions League this evening.
It kicks off at the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples at 20.00 UK time (21.00 CEST).
You can follow all the build-up and action as it happens on the Liveblog.
NAPLES, ITALY – JULY 14: New SSC Napoli head coach Massimiliano Allegri is unveiled at Teatro di San Carlo on July 14, 2026 in Naples, Italy. (Photo by Francesco Pecoraro/Getty Images) This has been a tough start for new coach Allegri, who beat Genoa in the opening Serie A game, but then suffered back-to-back defeats against Como and Inter.
In the latter, they fumbled a 2-0 lead for the 3-2 loss in stoppages, a real blow to morale.
Allegri admires Arsenal defence MILAN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 05: Massimiliano Allegri, Manager of Napoli, gestures during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and SSC Napoli at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on September 05, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Claudio Villa/Getty Images) “In football everything matters, and tactics are very important,” Allegri told Amazon Prime Video Italia.
“It is a marvellous sport because you need to be smart, to understand the moments of the game, and these things can be worked on in training.”
The choices are extremely limited this evening, as Scott McTominay had heart surgery to correct a mild, benign arrhythmia, with Andre Frank Zambo Anguissa, Noa Lang, Alessandro Buongiorno, Luca Marianucci and Giovane injured.
David Neres is not at 100 per cent either, so Kevin De Bruyne and Billy Gilmour rush their recovery with the first starts of the season.
MILAN, ITALY – SEPTEMBER 05: Massimiliano Allegri, Manager of Napoli, gestures during the Serie A match between FC Internazionale and SSC Napoli at Stadio Giuseppe Meazza on September 05, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images) “Mikel Arteta has done a great job by reaching the Champions League Final and winning the Premier League last season,” continued Allegri.
“They’ve got players of great quality, but are also very strong in defence. It’s honestly rare to see an English team defend in that way, so they ought to be congratulated for that.
“As for us, we must make as few mistakes as possible, because we saw yesterday how any error will be immediately punished at this level. We can and must do better on transitions, because that’s where Arsenal are very dangerous.
GENOA, ITALY – AUGUST 22: Massimiliano Allegri, Head Coach of Napoli before the Serie A match between Genoa CFC and SSC Napoli at Stadio Luigi Ferraris on August 22, 2026 in Genoa, Italy. (Photo by Simone Arveda/Getty Images) “We need technique and to move the ball quickly when we find spaces. Both Arsenal and Napoli are good in that sense, so we hope for an entertaining match. We want to start the Champions League on the right foot.”
Allegri has 100 Champions League games in his career, winning 45, drawing 26 and losing 29 including two Finals for Juventus, but this is his return to the tournament after four years away.
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What happened
Massimiliano Allegri has been preparing Napoli for an upcoming match against Arsenal, and offered high praise for the Gunners' defensive setup. In his pre-match comments, Allegri noted that Arsenal's style of defending is unusual in English football, implying it is more continental in its structure and discipline. The remarks suggest Allegri views Arsenal as a technically sophisticated opponent and is tailoring his tactical approach accordingly. Napoli will look to match or disrupt Arsenal's organized defensive system in the European tie.
Chance analysis
When a coach of Allegri's experience singles out an opponent's defensive identity, it signals genuine respect and a need for careful preparation. Arsenal's structured, positionally disciplined defending has become a hallmark under their current system, and Allegri's observation frames the upcoming European clash as a meeting of contrasting football cultures. For Napoli, the challenge is breaking down a back line that doesn't rely on physicality alone. For Arsenal, it's another test of whether their continental-style defending holds up against elite European opposition.
Arsenal's defensive organization is validated by a top-level opponent's praise, while Napoli enters the fixture with heightened tactical awareness around breaking down structured defenses.