According to Football Insider, Arsenal could have to make important defensive decisions this summer as doubts grow over Riccardo Calafioli’s long-term reliability.
The Italy international has impressed every chance he gets, but his repeated injuries have reportedly led to internal discussions as to whether the club should consider an offer should a suitable offer arrive.
The situation underlines Arsenal’s ambition under Mikel Arteta to build a squad that can continue to challenge the Premier League, domestic cup competitions and European competitions without suffering from a lack of strength.
Calafioli has been important for Arsenal this season
Comfortable operating at left-back or as part of a back three, the 23-year-old offers tactical versatility, composure in possession and progressive passing from deep, attributes that are highly valued in Arteta’s system.
When fit, Calafiori can seamlessly fit into Arsenal’s defensive framework.
His ability to flip into midfield in the build-up reflects the modern full-back role that Arteta is looking for, and his defensive positioning and foresight strengthen the backline in high-pressing games.
Statistically, he has been a consistent contributor in terms of interceptions and progressive carries, helping Arsenal maintain the lead in matches where territorial dominance is essential.
Red flag goes up on injury record
Mick Brown told Football Insider:
“Arsenal are evaluating Calafioli.
“If the medical team decides he’s injury-prone and not something he can deal with in terms of playing time, that would be a serious problem.
“If that’s the case, I wouldn’t be surprised if they tried to get rid of him.
“Arteta wants to have players who can play every week and he doesn’t want to gamble on a player’s fitness because of the competition they’re playing in.
“Arsenal want to play in the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup every year and to do that we need a squad with a lot of players.”
Arteta has repeatedly stressed the importance of depth and reliability, especially with Arsenal competing on multiple fronts.
Managers want to avoid putting too much stress on key players and want reliable options that can maintain performance levels over a long season.
Arsenal are not actively trying to get rid of Calafioli, but there is a growing understanding that maintaining balance and durability may require difficult team decisions.
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