Stuart Pearce has now warned Riccardo Calafiori about the ‘only problem’ he may face at Arsenal, as the Gunners close in on finalising the defender’s transfer from Bologna.
Calafiori greatly impressed Pearce at Euro 2024 this summer after starring throughout Italy’s group stage ties. He started in the Azzurri’s first three games to help Luciano Spalletti’s team into the knockout stages. But the centre-half’s ban saw him miss their defeat to Switzerland.
What Calafiori delivered in the heart of Italy’s defence in Germany also convinced Arsenal to target his transfer from Bologna. Although Mikel Arteta mainly envisages fielding Calafiori as a left-back in north London, with the 22-year-old comfortable with playing in either position.
Stuart Pearce feels Riccardo Calafiori’s ‘only problem’ at Arsenal is if he can play at left-back
Arsenal are now on the cusp of completing Calafiori’s transfer after agreeing on a fee of up to £38m with Bologna. Sky Italia even reports that the five-cap enforcer is now due in north London to undergo a medical on July 27 ahead of finalising a deal worth up to €50m (£42m).
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Bologna director Claudio Fenucci has also confirmed that Calafiori is leaving the Serie A side. The Rossoblu chief admitted this Friday, when the Rome native was first due in N5, that they are targeting his replacement. Calafiori will join Arsenal’s USA pre-season tour once he joins.
But Pearce has now highlighted the ‘only problem’ that Calafiori may face as an Arsenal star. The England cult legend still questions how effective he may be as a left-back in the Premier League. Calafiori’s one-on-one defending skill will determine the success of Arsenal’s move.
“[He is] happy to advance with the ball,” Pearce has told talkSPORT. “He showed that at the Euros really, really well! I don’t think he will have too much of a problem.
“The only problem he might have is when he has to defend one-on-one situations out wide. How good is he at that? That is the mark of a good full-back.”
Stuart Pearce is right to wonder about Riccardo Calafiori as a left-back
Pearce is within his rights to wonder how effective Calafiori will be as a left-back for Arsenal, having featured solely as a centre-half for Italy during Euro 2024 and for 26 of his 30 Serie A outings last season. Two of his four matches as a left-back also came from Bologna’s bench.
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Additionally, Calafiori won just three of his seven attempted tackles in Germany this summer as a centre-back. But his defensive qualities shone through more often at I Rossoblu with 47 successful tackles in 57 attempts. He also had 50 Serie A interceptions and six at Euro 2024.
Arteta largely relied on right-back Takehiro Tomiyasu and centre-half Jakub Kiwior to feature as Arsenal’s left-back last term. Kiwior also appeared three times at Euro 2024 as a centre-half for Poland, over which he had seven successful tackles from nine plus five interceptions.
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