Riccardo Calafiori verdict tells Mikel Arteta what he already knew despite Arsenal injury scare
Riccardo Calafiori continues to impress on the international stage following his summer transfer to Arsenal.
The centre-back caught the eye with his performances for Italy during Euro 2024 over the summer. Soon after the nation were knocked out of the championships by Switzerland, the player completed a move from Bologna to the Emirates Stadium for a rising to £42million.
He has made two appearances, from the subs bench, so far this season as he adapts to life in the Premier League. But he got a chance to impress when he was handed another start by Luciano Spalletti when Italy took on France in the Nations League on Friday night.
Calafiori played 70 minutes of the 3-1 win before being forced off the field with a calf injury. Arsenal are still waiting to discover the extent of the problem, but worries were dampened by Spalletti after the match, as he offered hope of the player being available for their next game vs Israel.
Before he was taken off, the Italian media had seen enough to share their verdict on Calafiori, and the results will make good reading for Mikel Arteta, with publications already naming the defender as a ‘fundamental’ part of the Italy team. Here’s our round-up of what was said;
Sky Sports Italia
“As a third defender on the left, he often offers himself to offensive manoeuvres, although without standing out,” they wrote. “Present and attentive in defence, as well. The French dangers and penetrations come from the other side. He comes out for a blow to the calf. He’s already a pillar.”
The Italian outlet awarded Calafiori a score of 7.5 out of 10 in their ratings and simply wrote: “Cold, hard, brazen. Italy regains confidence with him.”
Corriere dello Sport
Calafiori was awarded a score of 7 out of 10 in their ratings. Their verdict read: “He immediately closes a diagonal and saves us from trouble. He’s a guarantee, but he does more; he often gets up to play the additional playmaker, trying to give Ricci air, setting up and putting phosphorus and muscles into the service.”
Eurosport
The defender was given a 6.5 out of 10 by Eurosport, who wrote: “A fundamental player in this new Italy that plays with three [defenders]. He defends with grit and he sets up with accuracy, always with his head held high, practical and elegant at the same time.”
