Danny Murphy says one Arsenal star is ‘playing like a man possessed’ this season, it’s crazy

Add as preferred source on Google

Many of Arsenal’s underappreciated players are being praised lately.

Mikel Arteta has built a squad filled with top-class footballers, but not everyone in his side gets the credit they deserve from pundits.

However, in recent weeks, the likes of Jurrien Timber, David Raya, Noni Madueke and Gabriel Martinelli have been earning plenty of plaudits.

Now, another player has been lauded for his performances.

Danny Murphy says Arsenal star Riccardo Calafiori is ‘playing like a man possessed’

Riccardo Calafiori has been Arsenal’s first-choice left-back this season.

The Italy international joined the Gunners in the summer of 2023, but his first campaign in the red and white didn’t completely go to plan.

Calafiori had multiple injury issues, and to make things worse for him, Myles Lewis-Skelly performed brilliantly and became one of the first names on the team sheet.

Everyone expected the teenager to continue as Arsenal’s main left-back this season, but Arteta has preferred Calafiori, and the former Bologna man has delivered.

Danny Murphy has now heaped praise on the Italian.

He said on talkSPORT: “Lewis-Skelly, who was arguably one of the best left-backs in the league last year, can’t get a kick, because Calafiori is playing like a man possessed.”

Murphy was hailing Arsenal’s squad depth and went on to claim that the Gunners are his new favourites to win the Premier League title.

Riccardo Calafiori is outperforming Mohamed Salah in one statistic

Calafiori starts every game as a left-back at Arsenal, but Arteta gives him more freedom than the attackers.

The 23-year-old roams across the pitch and is sometimes even seen on the right flank. That is usually not where you see your left-back.

Arteta revealed that Calafiori’s movement creates chaos for the opponents, and in doing so, he is proving to be a major threat in attack.

Squawka reveals that Calafiori has actually had more shots at goal than Liverpool superstar Mohamed Salah this season.

One of his last strikes came with his weaker right foot outside the box against West Ham United. It struck the post and bounced back out, but rivals will now be aware that Calafiori cannot be afforded space even when he’s on his right foot.

That gives Arsenal an edge in attack in the coming games.