Arsenal fans are all saying the same thing about Riccardo Calafiori’s absence from the Aston Villa match

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Arsenal are preparing to host Unai Emery’s Aston Villa side as they look to pick up three crucial points in the race for the Premier League title.

Mikel Arteta’s side head into the game knowing that they must win to keep the pressure on Liverpool at the top of the Premier League.

Arsenal will be boosted by Aston Villa’s injury list however, have selection issues of their own with William Saliba absent with a hamstring injury picked up in the North London Derby.

The absence of the Frenchman has meant that Jurrien Timber has moved into centre back but the absence of another defender from the squad seems to have frustrated a number of Arsenal fans.

READ MORE: Who is the referee for Arsenal v Aston Villa? Match officials and VAR confirmed for Emery return

Arsenal fans frustrated by Riccardo Calafiori’s latest injury

Riccardo Calafiori is absent from the latest Arsenal matchday squad due to picking up another injury. The Italian defender, who signed from Bologna in the summer, has already missed 13 games for the Gunners this season with a variety of fitness issues.

It seems the latest injury, coming at a time where Arsenal need everyone fit and available, has frustrated a number of Arsenal fans. Here are some reactions.

One Arsenal fan on X wrote: “Calafiori is a liability already. Injured every week even though he doesn’t even play!”

Another fan wrote: “Calafiori would have been really useful at centre half today, it’s just a shame he doesn’t leave the physio room.”

Some fans have been questioning the club’s decision to sign Calafiori, one fan wrote: “I’ve liked a lot of what i’ve seen from Calafiori but surely Arteta deserves some heat for signing yet another injury prone player with money that could have been spent on an attacker.”

Calafiori being compared to Takehiro Tomiyasu by Arsenal fans

Another defender signed from Bologna was Takehiro Tomiyasu, who has also struggled with injuries since arriving at the Gunners.

Some Arsenal fans have been comparing Calafiori and Tomiyasu’s struggles for fitness and are hoping that both players can fight back to full fitness in order to help the team moving forward.

It is now down to Timber and Gabriel Magalhaes to stop the dangerous Ollie Watkins with Thomas Partey at right back. Arsenal have a ‘shocking’ record with Partey at right back.

Arteta will be hoping that the injury to Calafiori is not serious enough to prevent him missing further games, whilst Tomiyasu has returned to light training following an injury that has kept him out since October.