Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori has been ruled out of next weekend’s Premier League clash against Wolverhampton Wanderers at the Emirates Stadium.
The Gunners suffered a frustrating 2-1 defeat to Aston Villa on the road yesterday. Calafiori started the game and was replaced by Myles Lewis-Skelly late on.
Prior to that, the Italy international picked up a booking for a blatant foul. It was his fifth yellow card of the season, which will trigger a one-game league ban.
As a result, the 23-year-old will be ruled out of Saturday’s late kick-off against bottom-placed Wolves at home, which the Gunners should comfortably win.
It remains to be seen whether Calafiori gets the nod to start during the midweek Champions League encounter against Belgian side Club Brugge away from home.
Myles Lewis-Skelly has started three of the last four European matches. Manager Mikel Arteta may want to hand him more playing time before the Wolves clash.
Lewis-Skelly has played second fiddle to Calafiori throughout the Premier League campaign, and he is set to finally make his first start due to the Italian’s suspension.
Manager Mikel Arteta fielded Jurrien Timber and Piero Hincapie in central defence against Villa yesterday.
The Spaniard recently said that William Saliba is a ‘matter of days’ from an injury return. He could be fit in time for the midweek Champions League game in Bruges.
Gabriel Magalhaes won’t play any part against Club Brugge or Wolves, having picked up a thigh injury on international duty last month. He is out until the New Year.
Cristhian Mosquera likewise won’t be involved. Arteta yesterday confirmed that the Spaniard will be ‘out for weeks‘ after picking up an ankle injury against Brentford.
Alongside the defensive pair, Kai Havertz is likewise ‘weeks‘ away from a comeback. The German suffered a relapse in his recovery from a knee injury earlier last month.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com