Mikel Arteta outlines William Saliba plan for the new season after Riccardo Calafiori’s arrival

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Arsenal have signed defender Riccardo Calafiori from Bologna, to strengthen the best defence in the Premier League.

Mikel Arteta’s side had the best defensive record last season, conceding just 29 goals in 38 games, and David Raya won the Golden Glove with 16 clean sheets.

Arsenal’s back line is the best in the division, with Ben White, William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes proving to be vital figures, and they will now be joined by Calafiori, who is expected to play at left-back.

Saliba broke a club record as he played in every single minute of the Premier League campaign. The Frenchman is now one of the best centre-backs in world football, but this is not a feat Arteta wants him to repeat next season.

Mikel Arteta wants William Saliba to play less minutes as Arsenal confirm Riccardo Calafiori arrival

Speaking after Calafiori confirmed his move to the Emirates, Arteta claimed that his desire to bring the defender in was fuelled by Arsenal’s lack of depth in the back line.

“We were really short in the back line last season in terms of numbers and we demanded so much from them,” Arteta stated.

“Willy (Saliba) for example, played every minute of the Premier League season, and we believe that he has to be much more protected.

“We identified him (Calafiori) as a player, as a talent that can give us his skills and qualities that are going to make us better.

Jurrien Timber arrived last summer, but missed the entire season after picking up a long-term injury on his Premier League debut, and Arteta has hinted that his injury played a part in Calafiori’s signing.

“I’m very happy that we got Riccardo done. As I said, I think it was very important to have that reform in the backline, considering the issues that we had especially last year and once Jurrien was injured,” he added.

“He (Calafiori) increases the competition, increases the quality and it’s very good news for the team.”

Arsenal’s defensive depth is now complete with Riccardo Calafiori and Jurrien Timber

In Calafiori and Timber, Arsenal will gain two players who can feature in multiple positions across the back line.

The Italian can play at centre-back and left-back, whilst Timber has shown that he can play anywhere across the back line including in the middle.

Both players can therefore ease the pressure on Saliba, and it would be no surprise to see the France star occasionally rotated out now that Arsenal’s defensive depth is complete, with quality and versatile options across the whole back four and the uncertainty at left-back resolved.