Riccardo Calafiori has been a talking point early into the 2025/26 campaign at Arsenal, starting every Premier League game so far.
The Italian’s first season at Arsenal was difficult, spending a lot of time on the sidelines due to injuries.
Added to combating the challenge of reaching full fitness, Calafiori was usurped by Myles Lewis-Skelly.
The roles have now reversed between the two players, and while Lewis-Skelly’s omission seems harsh, it’s clear to see why Mikel Arteta is such a fan of Calafiori.
Robbie Mustoe stunned by Mikel Arteta’s plan for Riccardo Calafiori
Arteta spoke about Lewis-Skelly’s lack of game time recently, taking the time to celebrate how good Calafiori has been so far this term.
Added to how impressive the 23-year-old has been in-game, there’s a deeper reason as to why Arteta is currently favouring the Italy international on the left side of defence.
After Arsenal’s win over Newcastle United, pundit Robbie Mustoe gave an insight into what the Arsenal manager demands of Calafiori.
“I heard Arteta explaining it. It was fascinating in a press conference where he sort of explained how Calafiori played, and he basically said it depends on so many things,” Mustoe explained on The 2 Robbies podcast.
“He rattled off the way that the opponent’s number nine is pressing. The way that the opponent’s wide player…is he staying wide? Is he tucking in? Is how Calafiori plays, which then affects how the wide left player plays.”
Mustoe went on to admit that he was blown away by Arteta’s instructions for Calafiori, honing in on just how integral the Italian is to the Gunners’ left side.
“You’d expect this level of coaches at this level of football. There’s stuff that goes into why they play people in certain positions that quite honestly is over our heads. It’s really bright and really smart.”
Mustoe’s experience of hearing Arteta’s plan for Calafiori gives a fresh insight into why the 2024 signing is a firm starter in the back four at present.
Calafiori isn’t perfect, but he doesn’t need to be
It’s been a stark turn of fortune for Calafiori, who, at the end of last season, didn’t look as though he would be a starter at Arsenal anytime soon.
The narrative has been put on its head at Lewis-Skelly’s expense, with Calafiori clearly the perfect fit for what Arteta wants.
It’s particularly interesting as Calafiori isn’t the strongest defender, particularly as a full-back, but given how Arsenal play, he doesn’t necessarily need to be.
Where the Italian thrives is in areas that aren’t typical of a traditional left-back, having so many strings to his bow.
Arteta appears to have found his perfect match in Calafiori, but the concern is whether the defender can stay fit for the long term.
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