Arsenal star now among league’s best with recent accolade that wasn’t even won at the Emirates

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It’s been a brilliant week for Arsenal, with Mikel Arteta’s side responding to adversity prior to the international break with three consecutive victories.

The state of affairs look a lot more healthy at the Emirates, with 13 goals in these three triumphs signalling that the Gunners have returned to their fluent best.

Arteta’s team had been struggling without their captain, Martin Odegaard, but appear to have crucially rediscovered their form ahead of a congested Christmas period.

The North Londoners host Manchester United on Wednesday evening, with Bukayo Saka warning Ruben Amorim’s team that Arsenal will be at their best.

However, conceding twice against West Ham on the weekend may have allowed some doubts to creep into Arteta’s players minds, particularly down the team’s slightly vulnerable left-hand side.

Riccardo Calafiori named in Serie A Team of the Year

With the encounter at the London Stadium on Saturday evening poised at 4-0 to Arsenal, the Gunners defence switched off, allowing Carlos Soler to play Aaron Wan-Bissaka in behind and pull one back for the Hammers.

The main culprit for the concession of the goal was left-back Riccardo Calafiori, with the Italian caught ball watching.

While it was a minor lapse in concentration from the defender, such a mistake can be costly in the Premier League.

Arsenal fans were quick to point out this error, with the Gunners faithful urging Calafiori to ‘wake up’.

Clearly still hindered by persistent injury issues he’s suffered from since his arrival from Bologna, the 22-year-old appears to be lacking in fitness, and a little bit of confidence.

News has broken around the versatile defender since the incident in East London, with Calafiori named in the Serie A Team of the Year at the Gran Gala del Galacio.

The Roma academy graduate made 30 Serie A appearances last season, thriving under the stewardship of Thiago Motta, as Bologna qualified for the Champions League.

Now rewarded for these efforts, Calafiori’s exuberant personality and confidence could be reignited, potentially sparking a run of form for the left-back.

With the left-side of Arsenal’s defence seemingly the only vulnerable area of the team, a red-hot Calafiori negating this issue would represent a significant boost for Arteta, and subsequently could help the Spaniard’s team close the gap to league leaders Liverpool.

Calafiori’s offensive stats make for good reading for Arsenal

While some of his off-the-ball work might have come into question in recent matches, Calafiori has been excellent in possession.

Named as one of Arsenal’s top five performers of the 2024/25 season thus far, back in November, the ex-Basel man’s range of passing and aggressive ball carrying is a fundamental way in which the Gunners progress the ball.

Completing over one successful take-on per game, an impressive statistic for a defender, Calafiori also manages 3.93 progressive passes, and has 2.5 touches in the opposition box, per 90 minutes.

With Amad Diallo pushing high up the pitch as a wing-back for United at the Emirates on Wednesday evening, the space could be there for Calafiori to exploit.