Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta is hopeful that Riccardo Calafiori has not suffered a serious setback after the defender limped off during the Gunners’ 3-2 pre-season win over Newcastle United in Singapore on Sunday.
The 23-year-old centre-back started the game against the Magpies alongside William Saliba but had to be replaced by Jakub Kiwior just four minutes into the second half. Calafiori immediately headed down the tunnel, sparking fears of a potential injury relapse.
The Italian international had shown promising signs in the Milan game, playing a solid 45 minutes, but Sunday’s early exit threatens to derail his preseason rhythm.
Arteta, who is no stranger to injury setbacks, at the post-match press conference, said(as per Yahoo Sports):
“He (Calafiori) said he felt a little tweak, so I don’t know how bad it is, but hopefully it’s not serious.”
Signed from Bologna for £42 million last summer, the Rome-born endured an injury-disrupted debut season at the Emirates, managing just 29 appearances due to recurring knee and muscle issues.
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Calafiori’s latest knock will be a worry for Arteta, who is already navigating a preseason hampered by multiple defensive absences. For the record, fellow defenders Jurrien Timber and Gabriel Magalhaes have yet to feature in preseason, both still recovering from injuries that affected their availability last season.
Ben White is also only just returning to full training following knee surgery and remains on a carefully managed fitness schedule. After a season where defensive injuries derailed the Gunners’ title push, fans were looking forward to a fresh start.
Calafiori’s arrival was seen as part of the club’s plan to reinforce the backline and avoid last year’s mistakes. So, watching him go down less than 50 minutes into a friendly naturally brings frustration.
While many fans are encouraged by the strong performances of young talents like Max Dowman and very excited about the debut of Swedish international Viktor Gyökeres, the sight of another defender limping off dampens the mood.
Some fans have taken to social media to express concern over the club’s growing injury list before the season has even begun. Others are calling for the medical team and fitness strategies to be reviewed, especially after last season’s setbacks with Timber, Tomiyasu, and others.
But there is still hope. Calafiori’s own decision to walk off rather than be stretchered off offers a silver lining. The fanbase knows the Italian has the quality, and they just want to see him fit, firing, and available when it matters most.
Meanwhile, Arsenal will wrap up their Asia tour on Thursday with a much-anticipated clash against their rivals, Tottenham Hotspur. Summer signing Viktor Gyökeres is expected to make his first appearance in that match, giving fans a glimpse of the Swedish striker in action.
