Arsenal
Arsenal beat Everton with ease, but the latest injury news about Riccardo Calafiori added a small worry. Mikel Arteta says the defender had a slight issue late on.
A late scare for Riccardo Calafiori
As reported by The Standard, Calafiori had started every Premier League game for Arsenal this season before this match. Arteta kept him on the bench, and Myles Lewis-Skelly took the left-back spot from the start. The Italian came on in the 68th minute in a triple change, alongside Kai Havertz and Bruno Guimaraes. Arsenal already led through Ezri Konsa’s seventh-minute goal, his first for the club since joining in August. Gabriel added a second goal at almost the same moment. The goal arrived on Gabriel’s 200th Premier League appearance for Arsenal, a notable milestone for the Brazilian defender.
Eight minutes of added time followed, and Noni Madueke dropped back to left-back while Calafiori stayed forward. Madueke had to work hard, with Gabriel and Konsa shouting instructions to guide him through the closing stages. Riccardo Calafiori then went straight to the dressing room at full-time. Mikel Arteta explained that the positional swap came because the defender felt something and wanted to be cautious. He admitted the club does not yet know the exact cause.
Calafiori’s 2026/27 stats for Arsenal so far, as per FOTMOB:
Competition Matches Assists Chances created Defensive contributions Duels won(%)
Premier League 8 2 6 27 54.3%
Champions League 1 0 0 6 83.3%
Madueke impresses on both flanks
Before that late reshuffle, Madueke had already caught the eye further up the field during a lively first half. He began on the right wing, covering for Bukayo Saka, who is out with a quad problem. Madueke twice went close around the half-hour mark, including one effort that finished in the side netting. Late in the second half, Max Dowman came on, and Madueke moved across to the left flank.
As a right-footed winger, Madueke can shoot with his stronger foot when he drifts inside from the left. On the right, he has more room to run wide and whip crosses towards the box. The main task for Madueke is to deliver the final pass or shot more often. Both goals came from set pieces, a reminder that Arsenal need extra routes to goal while Saka is out.
Arteta said he was very impressed with the winger’s display and with the variety he brings. Arteta added that the winger must keep sharpening his mentality and consistency to reach an elite level.
Arsenal - Group
Arsenal - Group
Left-back options as Arsenal match Man City
The 2-0 win lifted Arsenal level on points with Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table. It was Arsenal’s seventh league win of the campaign, and it came at a rain-soaked Emirates. City had lost at Aston Villa, which made the result even more valuable for the defending champions. The win also came against David Moyes, who was once Arteta’s boss during his playing days at Everton. Moving Noni Madueke to left-back late on was only a stopgap, and Arteta played down the switch after the game.
Myles Lewis-Skelly is the first option if Calafiori needs rest, since he started at left-back against Everton. Piero Hincapie was also among the substitutes, which gives Arteta another defensive option on that side. Fans should hear more when he speaks to the media before the Liverpool trip, currently set for 31 October.