riccardo calafiori arsenal
Riccardo Calafiori is expected to be ready for Arsenal’s first league meeting with Tottenham this season, according to reports.
Fabrizio Romano shared that the defender should recover in time after leaving the Italy camp earlier than planned.
Calafiori expected to make swift return
The defender left the national team group after he felt pain in his hip. He did not feature in either match for Italy during the break.
The issue raised fear among Arsenal supporters, who worried that the defender might miss the derby on Sunday.
However, Romano’s update suggests that Calafiori will be fine for the fixture against Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium.
The Italian has grown into an important part of Mikel Arteta’s set up this season.
He has brought calm to the back line. He has also added balance on the left side of the defence.
Arsenal have become very strong as a team with him in the side. They have let in only five goals in eleven league matches so far, in the league.
They also remain unbeaten in the Champions League group stage and are yet to concede a goal in the competition.
Boost for Arteta amid injury concerns
News of Calafiori’s availability will be a welcome relief to Arteta. The manager is already dealing with the fitness issue suffered by Gabriel Magalhães during the break.
The Brazilian defender picked up that injury while with his national team. Calafiori’s recovery will reduce that concern for the upcoming match.
Arsenal will host Tottenham at the Emirates Stadium in a game that remains one of the most watched derbies in the league.
The match is also important for Arsenal’s push to remain near the top of the table. Arteta wants his side to maintain the momentum they built before the break.
The Gunners have played with strong focus and clear organisation in recent weeks. The possible return of a key defender will support that rhythm.
Fans will hope that both Calafiori and Gabriel can return to full training soon.
The squad needs as many fit players as possible as they move into a very busy period of the season.
The team have league matches, Champions League fixtures, and cup games lined up. A healthy defence will be vital for their goals this season.