Mikel Arteta provides positive injury update on Riccardo Calafiori

Mikel Arteta has said Riccardo Calafiori is "progressing well" in his recovery from a knee injury but is unsure when the Italian defender will return to action.

Calafiori has a history of knee issues, but the setback he sustained while on international duty in March was a freak incident which could've resulted in a far worse outcome.

The boss alluded to that when he supplied his first update on Calafiori's injury, suggesting the defender would miss "weeks" rather than months. The marauding full-back missed a month with another knee issue during the winter amid a stop-start but nonetheless promising debut campaign after joining from Bologna in the summer.

Fortunately for Arteta, he's been able to lean on burgeoning teenage sensation Myles Lewis-Skelly in Calafiori's absence. The England international was superb yet again as the Gunners produced a coming-of-age performance in their 3-0 victory over Real Madrid on Tuesday night.

Mikel Arteta unsure of when Riccardo Calafiori will return from knee injury

While Lewis-Skelly shone on the pitch, Calafiori was a winner off it as he caught up with Dua Lipa post-match. The club posted a snap of the pair on X, and I'm sure Callum Turner was keeping a watchful eye.

The Italian defender was seen watching on from the tunnel with Kai Havertz as Eduardo Camavinga received his marching orders, doubtlessly wishing that he was involved in what was a special night for the Gunners. A return is surely close, although Arteta couldn't provide a time frame for when Calafiori will suit up again.

Speaking ahead of Saturday's Premier League duel with Brentford, the boss said (via afcstuff): “Richy’s progressing really well. I think to give you a timeline is difficult because he needs to step up, especially having more people around and how then he reacts after that, but he’s in a good place.”

We're unlikely to see Calafiori next week in Madrid, but the Italian will feature before the season draws to a close. If we hold on to our advantage in the second leg, he should be available for the semi-final against either Paris Saint-Germain or Aston Villa.

For now, though, we'll enjoy more of this Mousa Dembele regen we've unearthed from Hale End.

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