[epa11659423 Riccardo Calafiori of Italy in action during the UEFA Nations League A soccer match Italy vs Israel in Udine, Italy, 14 October 2024. EPA-EFE/DAVIDE CASENTINI
Riccardo Calafiori Italy EPA-EFE/DAVIDE CASENTINI](https://football-italia.net/italy-praise-calafiori-arsenal-assists-cooking/) Riccardo Calafiori has started the Premier League season with one goal and two assists, receiving praise from the Italy national team on X: ‘He is cooking.’
Italy international Calafiori has had a stunning start to the Premier League season, scoring one goal and providing two assists in the opening two league games in 2025-26.
Calafiori strong start to the season at Arsenal
Riccardo Calafiori of Arsenal celebrates at full-time following the team's victory in the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and Arsenal FC at Molineux on January 25, 2025 in Wolverhampton, England. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
Riccardo Calafiori of Arsenal celebrates at full-time following the team’s victory in the Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers FC and Arsenal FC at Molineux on January 25, 2025 in Wolverhampton, England. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
The ex-Bologna and Roma defender provided two assists in a 5-0 win over Leeds United on Saturday, just a week after scoring the winner against Manchester United at Old Trafford.
The 23-year-old was praised by the Italian national team on Sunday morning with a funny post: ‘Calafiori is cooking for Arsenal,’ wrote the official X account of the Azzurri.
Calafiori expected to be part of Italy squad in September
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 17: Riccardo Calafiori of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team's first goal with teammate Gabriel Martinelli during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford on August 17, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND – AUGUST 17: Riccardo Calafiori of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team’s first goal with teammate Gabriel Martinelli during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Arsenal at Old Trafford on August 17, 2025 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)
Calafiori had missed several games due to injuries in 2024-25, and Mikel Arteta admitted during the pre-season that availability was one of the biggest things the Italian had to achieve this term.
Surely, the start has been beyond convincing, and Calafiori is likely to be called up by new Azzurri coach Gennaro Gattuso in September for World Cup qualifying games against Estonia and Israel.
Calafiori is cooking for @Arsenal 👨🍳 pic.twitter.com/HWNLJh34Gc
— Italy ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (@Azzurri_En) August 24, 2025
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