LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 21: Riccardo Calafiori of Arsenal during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Arsenal FC and Coventry City at Emirates Stadium on August 21, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 21: Riccardo Calafiori of Arsenal during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Arsenal FC and Coventry City at Emirates Stadium on August 21, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Riccardo Calafiori has been shortlisted for the Premier League’s Player of the Month award for August following an impressive opening to the season with Arsenal.
According to the Premier League, the Italy international is one of eight nominees, alongside Rayan Cherki, Bruno Fernandes, Cole Palmer, Joao Pedro, Mamadou Sangare, Konstantinos Tzolakis and Yoane Wissa.
LONDON, ENGLAND - AUGUST 21: Kai Havertz of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammate Riccardo Calafiori during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Arsenal FC and Coventry City at Emirates Stadium on August 21, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 21: Kai Havertz of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammate Riccardo Calafiori during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Arsenal FC and Coventry City at Emirates Stadium on August 21, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
Calafiori’s overlapping runs behind Arsenal’s opening two wins
The former Bologna and Roma defender has two assists from two matches, a return most left-backs would take from a full season. His low ball across the face of goal teed up Kai Havertz for Arsenal’s first goal of the campaign against Coventry City, and a cutback against Aston Villa left Bukayo Saka with a simple finish for the winner.
The defensive side of his game has been just as strong. Arsenal have won both fixtures without conceding, restricting their opponents to a single shot on target across the two games combined, with Calafiori’s positioning and recovery pace central to that.
It represents a significant step forward for the Italian, who arrived in north London in 2024 and has taken time to nail down a regular starting berth. His form should also strengthen his case with Italy ahead of the next international window.