Arsenal have almost an entirely fit squad heading into their clash with Tottenham in Hong Kong on Thursday.
Mikel Arteta’s side struggled with relentless injury issues last season and will be hoping for a lot more fortune on this front next campaign.
Jurrien Timber and Gabriel Magalhaes have missed Arsenal’s first two games of pre-season, recovering from ankle and hamstring surgery respectively.
The Gunners should have both back before the new campaign commences, while another injury scare that was incurred in the Newcastle clash may have just been dismissed.
Riccardo Calafiori spotted with Arsenal squad after injury scare
Arsenal beat Newcastle 3-2 on Wednesday, courtesy of a strike from Mikel Merino, an own goal from Alex Murphy and a penalty from Martin Odegaard.
While Arteta had plenty of positives to take from the clash, Riccardo Calafiori was forced off through injury in the 49th minute.
The Italian, who was hampered by fitness issues last season, pulled up shortly after half-time and was unable to continue, prompting the Gunners boss to replace the defender with Jakub Kiwior.
Arsenal fans were frustrated by Calafiori’s injury, with the 23-year-old seemingly unable to keep himself fit for more than a few games in a row.
However, a video has emerged online that indicates that the injury may well have been insignificant and that he could be available to face Tottenham on Thursday.
Calafiori was seen walking carefree from Arsenal’s base in Singapore towards the team bus as the squad headed off for training.
The footage suggests the former Bologna man was travelling to take part in Arsenal’s training session, likely meaning the extent of his setback won’t keep him out for any significant period of time, if any time at all.
Riccardo Calafiori needs to deliver this season for Arsenal
Arsenal outlaid a significant fee on Calafiori, worth in the region of £38 million including add-ons.
It’s been well documented that there were internal concerns about the player’s fitness history before purchasing him, but Arteta was so convinced by the player’s talent that they opted to sign him anyway.
After starting just 11 Premier League games last season due to injury, the pressure is now on Calafiori to start producing for the Gunners to justify the price they paid for him.
Having fallen behind Myles Lewis-Skelly in the pecking order at the Emirates, he has a battle on his hands to win his spot back at left-back.
Meanwhile, he’s unlikely to make his mark at left-centre-back once Gabriel returns to action.
An undeniably talented individual, but Calafiori’s Arsenal future is on the line in the 2025/26 season.
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