£32m Arsenal star who Arteta ‘berated’ must be sold once Riccardo Calafiori is signed

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Arsenal will need to make space in their first team squad in order to accommodate the arrival of Riccardo Calafiori this summer. 

Mikel Arteta is keen to take the Arsenal defensive contingent to the next level this summer.

Arsenal are closing in on the capture of Riccardo Calafiori. The Italy international impressed at Euro 2024 this summer, and would be an exciting arrival at the Emirates Stadium. 

The 22-year-old offers an option at left-back as well as in the heart of the defence. As a left-footer, he would provide natural cover for Gabriel Magalhaes at centre-back, and as a full-back he provides physicality, defensive awareness, aerial prowess, as well as a high level of technical ability and impressive attacking instincts.

Calafiori is excellent on the ball, and can make an impact in the final third, but he is a tried-and-tested defender too, and his presence would make the Gunners a more solid team at the back.

Arteta is known to want a new left-back this summer, but already has an abundance of players who can feature in that position available to him at Arsenal. Oleksandr Zinchenko, Jurrien timber, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Jurrien Timber all performed that role for the club last season, whilst Kieran Tierney also remains on the club’s books.

At least one of these players will have to go to make room for Calafiori. Arteta must now seek a buyer for Zinchenko for this reason.

• READ MORE: All Mikel Arteta signings at Arsenal ranked from worst to best

Why Arsenal must sell Oleksandr Zinchenko if Riccardo Calafiori signs

Arsenal paid £32 million to sign Zinchenko from Manchester City in the summer of 2022.

The Ukrainian was something of a revelation at the Emirates Stadium at the start of his Arsenal career. His inverted interpretation of the left-back role revolutionised how Arteta’s team play. With Zinchenko able to drift into the midfield zone and operate as an auxiliary playmaker of sorts, the Gunners were able to dominate the middle of the park. 

However, Zinchenko is something of a defensive liability, and as his form wavered last season this became a more pronounced issue.

As reported by The Express, Arteta “berated” the 27-year-old after a particularly poor performance against Aston Villa.

It has been said that Arteta has lost faith in Zinchenko in general. It is certainly true that his limitations have been exposed now, and given his age he is unlikely to ever significantly improve upon his deficiencies. However, he does still hold some resale value, making him the ideal player to cash in on to accommodate Calafiori.