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Arsenal new signing picks up injury on international duty
- Riccardo Calafiori sustained suspected calf injury on international duty
- New Arsenal signing impressed in Italy's 3-1 win over France
- Calafiori not expected to miss any time
Arsenal fans were left sweating on Friday night after new arrival Riccardo Calafiori sustained an injury which forced him off during Italy's 3-1 victory over France.
Calafiori joined the club from Bologna in a deal which could be worth up to £42m back in July, and the versatile Italian defender has so far made a couple of appearances off the bench.
After starring amid a disappointing Euro 2024 campaign for the Azzurri, Calafiori was included in Luciano Spalletti's starting XI for Italy's 2024/25 UEFA Nations League opener in Paris. The Arsenal defender performed a proactive left centre-back role which handed him plenty of freedom to rotate and roam. The front-footed aggressor showed off his capacity to progress play at will with the ball at his feet, while taming the distinct threat of Michael Olise down France's right.
It was all going swimmingly for the Arsenal newbie before a trailing Ousmane Dembele leg caught Calafiori and forced him off with 20 minutes to go.
No fears over Riccardo Calafiori injury sustained on international duty
Just ask for the shirt next time 🤣👍 @MichaelOlise10 pic.twitter.com/M0kMESJU4t
— Riccardo Calafiori (@RichyCala1) September 6, 2024
It was a freak incident with the studs of a tumbling Dembele catching Calafiori's lower leg. While the defender seemed in a bit of pain and was eventually brought off, Italy boss Spalletti thankfully didn't appear too concerned about the injury post-match.
"Calafiori needs to be evaluated, but with our good doctors there is a chance of recovering him," Spalletti said. Italy are next in action on Monday as they face Israel in Budapest.
Mikel Arteta will be hoping Calafiori remains absent for the remainder of the break with an early-season North London Derby on the horizon. While Jurrien Timber has worked his way back into the Spaniard's starting XI, Calafiori's performance in Paris suggests he'll soon be fiercely competing with the Dutchman for starts.
The former Bologna star's wild versatility and utterly unique profile means he may well offer a solution in midfield, too. Fellow new arrival Mikel Merino is out of action for the new couple of weeks with a shoulder injury, while Declan Rice is suspended for next Sunday's derby.
Calafiori is a proper problem solver, and we can only assume the impact injury sustained in the French capital will not keep the Arsenal man sidelined. Oh wait, that's just me being overly optimistic. Three-month absence: inbound.
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