Rafa Benitez,is Arsenal ready for the challenge......


Resurgent Arsenal face their biggest challenge of the season to date on Tuesday night when Napoli visit The Emirates in the Champions League. 
Under Rafa Benitez, the big-spending Italian side have made an unbeaten start to the season and boast plenty of firepower.
They outbid Arsenal for Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain in the summer - also taking Raul Albiol and Jose Maria Callejon from the Spanish giants - and secured Liverpool goalkeeper Pepe Reina on a season-long loan. 
Napoli forward Gonzalo Higuain
Hot shot: Gonzalo Higuain has been in fine scoring form since completing his big money move from Real madrid
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger
 Rafael benitez
Previous: Arsene Wenger (left) and Rafa Benitez are old foes from their time in the Premier League
Napoli goalkeeper Pepe Reina
Pep talk: Napoli keeper regards former Liverpool boss Benitez as the best manager he has worked under
That’s not to mention the likes of Lorenzo Insigne, Marek Hamsik, Goran Pandev and Gokhan Inler, who were already in a vibrant and dangerous team. 
Here’s the full lowdown on the side currently second in Serie A. 
How did they get on last season? 
Coach Walter Mazzarri, who is now in charge at Inter, guided Napoli to second place in Serie A, their highest finish since last winning the Scudetto in 1989-1990. 
They were second for all but eight weeks of the season but never looked like catching champions Juventus, who eventually finished nine points ahead.
Napoli reached the last 32 of the Europa League, losing embarrassingly 5-0 on aggregate to Viktoria Plzen. 
How have they started this season? 
Like Arsenal, they’ve done very well. Again they’re second in Serie A having won five and drawn one of their league fixtures so far. 
The highlight was a 2-1 win in the San Siro against AC Milan, when Miguel Britos and Gonzalo Higuain were on target.
Napoli
Riding high: Napoli are second in Serie A with results including a 2-1 away victory over AC Milan
They also started with a 2-1 win in the Champions League against Borussia Dortmund, aided by the dismissal of goalkeeper Roman Wiederfeller, a judgement that sent Jurgen Klopp wild with rage. 
Higuain, who has four goals so far in all, and Insigne were the scorers that night. 
How did they get on at the weekend?
Goran Pandev’s double earned Napoli three points at Genoa and lifted them temporarily to the top of Serie A. 
They are currently level on 16 points with leaders Roma and third-placed Juventus. 
Any previous meetings? 
Yes, quite recently too. Arsenal had to fight back from two-down to get a draw in the Emirates Cup back in August. 
They trailed by two within half-an-hour as Insigne and Pandev hit the target, but Olivier Giroud and Laurent Koscielny managed to scramble a draw late on. 
Rafa Benitez
Coach trip: Rafa Benitez takes a training session at the Emirates ahead of their Champions League clash
napoli
Who’s in charge?
Rafa Benitez, of course, needs no introduction. A European Cup winner at Liverpool, he was vilified last season at Chelsea until a Europa League triumph earned partial redemption.
The Spaniard has broken Arsenal hearts in the Champions League before when his Liverpool side scored two late goals to win their quarter-final second leg 4-2 in 2008. 
Emmanuel Adebayor thought he had won the tie after putting the Gunners 2-1 up on 84 minutes - only for a Steven Gerrard penalty three minutes later and Ryan Babel's 90th minute strike to snatch a semi-final spot away from them.
Rafa Benitez
Italian job: Rafa Benitez (centre) is far more pleased at Napoli after an enduring time at Chelsea
Benitez Wenger
The late, late show: Benitez's Liverpool sent Arsenal out of the Champions League quarter-finals in 2008
After his turbulent spell at Stamford Bridge, Benitez is much happier in Naples, where he has already gained the support of the fans despite the summer sale of star player Edinson Cavani to PSG.
In an interview with Sportsmail’s Matt Barlow this week, he said: ‘I met the president and I liked the challenge. 
‘I could feel from the first day the passion and the idea to improve was there. We knew that maybe Cavani would go, so we had to be sure about signing the right players.
‘I’ve signed four or five players with this money, all with international experience, who can give the message to the rest of the world that Napoli is growing.’

What does Arsene Wenger think?
The Arsenal manager said his team need to be wary of Napoli’s potency on the counter-attack when the sides meet and identified Lorenzo Insigne as the danger man.
Speaking to the club’s official website, Wenger said: ‘He [Insigne] is mobile, he is not tall but quick and very good in the transition from defence to attack. 
‘He is a good dribbler as well and is an intelligent mover. That makes him an interesting prospect.
‘That’s what struck me as well in the Emirates Cup - when they win the ball they come out very quickly with Callejon, Hamsik, Insigne and Higuain, [who] come out like bombs all the time they win the ball.
Arsene Wenger
Wary: Arsene Wenger has highlighted Napoli's danger on the counter-attack ahead of the game at the Emirates
‘The transition from our side from offence to defence will have to be very quick.’
Who is the danger man?
Gonzalo Higuain
Position: Striker Age: 25 Country: Argentina (35 caps, 21 goals) Napoli appearances: 5 Napoli goals: 4
Has to be Gonzalo Higuain given that Arsenal were so desperate to sign him during the summer. 
While Wenger dithered, Napoli splashed out £32.5million for Real’s surplus striker and he’s already scored five goals for club and country so far this season, suggesting the move has been a positive one.
Wenger had no regrets about missing out on the Argentine, especially after they ended up with £42.5m Mesut Ozil.
Napoli forward Gonzalo Higuain
The one that got away? Gonzalo Higuain came close to joining Arsenal in the summer
Napoli's Gonzalo Higuain
Mesut Ozil
Arsenal 1 Napoli 1: Both clubs made important big money signings from Real Madrid during the summer
He said: ‘As we know, in the end Real Madrid sold two great players, one of them went to Napoli, one went to Arsenal - so it’s 1-1 on that front.’
Benitez played him for only the last half-hour at Genoa on Saturday, ensuring he will be firing on all cylinders against Arsenal. 
As well as possessing a deadly finish in front of goal, as shown by 122 goals in 264 matches at Madrid, Higuain is also accustomed to coming on to the right-hand flank to make incursions into the box past the wing-back. 
With plenty of attacking impetus available in midfield, however, Higuain will likely employ an orthodox central role against Arsenal.
Who are the other players?
Pepe Reina
Position: Goalkeeper Age: 31 Country: Spain (29 caps) Napoli appearances: 5

Virtually an ever-present for Liverpool from 2005 until last season, Reina was surprisingly send out on loan when Simon Mignolet arrived in the summer. 
He was only too happy to link up with Benitez at Napoli and has gone on record to say he doesn’t envisage returning to Anfield in the near future.
Jose Reina
Same again please: Liverpool goalkeeper Jose Reina celebrates eliminating Arsenal in 2008
On his boss, Reina said: ‘He’s the best manager I’ve worked with. He’s just as good as ever. 
‘If anything, he is probably a little more complete, with much more experience. He has become a much better manager.’
Giandomenico Mesto
Position: Right-back Age: 31 Country: Italy (3 caps) Napoli appearances: 28 Napoli goals: 1
Was uncertain of his place in the team during the summer and considered leaving the club, but received the vote of confidence from Benitez.
Despite being the wrong side of 30, Mesto can still use his pace to support the attack on the right side. 
Formerly of Reggina, Udinese and Genoa - and capped three times for Italy - he joined Napoli at the start of last season. 

Raul Albiol
Position: Centre-back Age: 28 Country: Spain (42 caps) Napoli appearances: 4

Has been passed fit to face Arsenal despite going off with a muscle problem at half-time against Genoa on Saturday.
Napoli paid £10.5million for Albiol in the summer as Real Madrid held a clear-out and the Spaniard has since pushed club captain Paolo Cannavaro from the starting line-up.
Raul Albiol
Real deals: Raul Albiol (left) is one of three players Napoli acquired from Real Marid in the summer
Albiol, an established member of the Spain squad, spent four years in all at Madrid, but his contract was cut short by four years. 

Miguel Britos
Position: Centre-back Age: 28 Country: Uruguay Napoli appearances: 45 Napoli goals: 2

Strong centre-half who is in his third season at Napoli, having joined from Bologna. 
Was part of the Napoli side that claimed the Coppa Italia in 2012, beating Juventus 2-0 in the final.

Camilo Zuniga
Position: Left-back/left midfield Age: 27 Country: Colombia (51 caps, one goal) Napoli appearances: 149 Napoli goals: 4
Colombian wing-back who likes to get forward and has been responsible for a good number of assists during his four years at the club. 
There are wild rumours in his home country that Barcelona and Juventus are among the clubs interested when his contract expires next summer, but that remains to be seen.
A regular for both club and country, he chips in with the occasional goal too. 

Valon Behrami 
Position: Central midfield Age: 28 Country: Switzerland (34 caps, two goals) Napoli appearances: 42

A familiar face to West Ham fans following his three years there, Behrami returns to London as the anchor in Napoli’s midfield.
Valon Behrami
hammer time: Valon Behrami (left) spent some time at West Ham before moving to Serie A
He cost the Hammers £5million when he joined from Lazio in 2008 and played right across the midfield in his 62 matches for the club.
The Swiss international of 34 caps then spent a season at Fiorentina before arriving in Naples. 
Gokhan Inler
Position: Central midfield Age: 29 Country: Switzerland (66 caps, six goals) Napoli appearances: 85 Napoli goals: 8

The Swiss-Turkish midfielder wore a lion mask when unveiled as Napoli’s new signing in 2011 and he’s shown plenty of the animal’s traits during his time at the club.
Tenacious in battle but also capable of inspiring the attack, Napoli’s no.88 is one of the first names on the teamsheet for Benitez.
Memorably scored a long-range goal against Chelsea in the Champions League last 16 tie in 2012, though Roberto Di Matteo’s side prevailed in extra time and went on to win the competition.
Gokhan Inler
Tough tackler: Swiss-Turkish enforcer Gokhan Inler (right) will add some steel to Napoli's midfield
Jose Maria Callejon
Position: Right winger Age: 26 Country: Spain (Eight Under 21 caps, one goal) Napoli appearances: 4 Napoli goals: 3
Yet another summer acquisition from Real Madrid, Callejon joined Napoli for £8.3million on a four-year deal. 
He then started repaying that fee with goals in his first three games - against Bologna, Chievo and Atalanta - as he gains the regular first team football he craves. 

Marek Hamsik
Position: Attacking midfield Age: 26 Country: Slovakia (67 caps, 11 goals) Napoli appearances: 264 Napoli goals: 74

A constant threat and a prolific scorer, Hamsik is an integral part of Benitez’s attacking ambitions at Napoli.
‘Is Bale worth the 100 million euros Real Madrid paid for him?,’ Benitez asked in a news conference earlier this season. ‘If so, then I’d say you can’t put a price on Hamsik.’
He’s scored doubles against Bologna and Chievo so far this season and after the latter, Benitez also compared him to Steven Gerrard because of his creative spark. 
The Slovakian will certainly be a thorn in the side of the Arsenal defence.
Lorenzo Insigne Marek Hamsik
Hairraisers: Lorenzo Insigne (right) and Marek Hamsik (left) have the creative talent to cause Arsenal problems
Lorenzo Insigne
Position: Secondary striker/Left winger Age: 22 Country: Italy (3 caps, 1 goals) Napoli appearances: 51 Napoli goals: 6

The man Arsene Wenger mentioned specifically as being the main threat for Napoli, Insigne grabbed the headlines with his excellent free-kick against Borussia Dortmund on matchday one. 
Wenger described him a ‘good dribbler’ and an ‘intelligent mover’, and he will certainly be nipping between the red shirts to play off Higuain from the left-hand side.
The 22-year-old, born in Naples, is very much set to become a home town hero if he continues in this vein.
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