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Will Scott McTominay be fit to face Arsenal in the Champions League after heart surgery?
Rohan Mehta | September 8, 2026 8:59 AM CST

7 September 2026

Key Napoli midfielder Scott McTominay underwent a minor procedure on Monday.

Scott McTominay has had minor heart surgery, putting his availability for Napoli’s opening Champions League match against Arsenal in doubt.

Arsenal were runners-up in last season’s Champions League final and will begin this season’s campaign with a trip to the Stadio Diego Armando Maradona.

Napoli, however, are set to be without one of their most important players in Scotland international McTominay, who has already started two Serie A matches this season.

It was confirmed last week that the midfielder would undergo a minor heart operation to correct what the club described as “a mild benign arrhythmia”, an irregular heartbeat considered non-serious.

He is understood to have had the procedure on Monday, 7 September, in England, just two days before Arsenal travel to Naples.

Scott McTominay has undergone a minor heart procedure.

No, Napoli will not play McTominay against Arsenal this week.

Writing last week, he reassured supporters: “I won’t take long.”

Speaking at an awards event in Italy last week, he added: “I’m fine, the procedure was something I’d planned to do with the club for quite a while.”

The club’s initial statement confirming McTominay’s surgery plans said: “He will be available again after the international break.”

Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna has said the midfielder is likely to be out for around four weeks while medication takes effect.

Manna told DAZN: “It will take 28 days for (McTominay to return to) sporting fitness because he will take anticoagulant drugs.

“For two weeks, the player will rest and then resume competitive activity without contact.”

Anticoagulants, more commonly known as blood thinners, are used to prevent blood clots.

The four-week recovery timeline means McTominay is expected to miss Scotland’s next four Nations League fixtures during the upcoming international break. In that period, Scotland are due to play Switzerland and North Macedonia before facing Slovenia twice.

After plans for McTominay’s surgery were confirmed, the Scotland national team said in a statement: “Wishing you all the best in your recovery, Scott. Hope to see you back in a Scotland shirt soon.”


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