Riccardo Calafiori has chance to make instant impact v Liverpool and rise above two key Arsenal stars

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New Arsenal signing Riccardo Calafiori has now trained with his teammates, and he could now make an instant impact.

The defender has joined up with the Arsenal squad on their pre-season tour in the USA after finalising his move, and he is in contention to make his first appearance in the next friendly.

Arsenal face Liverpool later this week in the final game of the tour before the squad returns to North London to face Bayer Leverkusen and Olympique Lyonnais in the Emirates Cup.

Calafiori will hope to stake a claim for a starting spot to begin the season, but there is a lot of competition at left-back. However, if he impresses in pre-season, he may be given the chance to show that he can make an instant impact in the Premier League.

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Riccardo Calafiori could make instant impact for Arsenal

The 22-year-old does not come with bags of experience, as he spent just one season at FC Basel before moving to Bologna, and just one season at Bologna before Arsenal moved for him.

However, he showed his outstanding ability at Euro 2024, and appears perfectly suited for the left-back role under Mikel Arteta.

Jurrien Timber, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Takehiro Tomiyasu will also hope to take the left-back spot in the squad for the opening game against Wolves, but Calafiori could have an advantage over some of them.

Tomiyasu has missed pre-season with an injury, whilst Zinchenko has a lot to prove after an underwhelming campaign. Timber has impressed in the friendlies, but is still returning to full fitness after missing last season with a long-term injury.

Riccardo Calafiori will hope to appear in friendly vs Liverpool

Mikel Arteta has hinted that Calafiori will be eased in slowly and therefore might not feature against Liverpool, but the defender will be eager to play.

He will hope that if he can impress in the final three friendlies of pre-season, that he will be entrusted with a starting role over longer-serving players in Tomiyasu and Zinchenko for the opening game.

If Calafiori starts the season well, it could spell trouble for both players, but if he is eased in slowly, and Zinchenko returns to form or Tomiyasu returns to fitness, he may find it more difficult to earn a starting place during the season.

Both Zinchenko and Tomiyasu have a lot to prove over their fitness this season, and they could find that if Calafiori usurps them in the pecking order, that their futures will become uncertain.