Arsenal Manager Mikel Arteta Faces Setback with Riccardo Calafiori Injury

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta may have to do without one of his key players, Riccardo Calafiori, for the upcoming Premier League clash against Tottenham Hotspur. The 22-year-old Italian defender was forced to withdraw from Italy’s national team due to a calf injury sustained during their 3-1 win against France in the Nations League on Friday evening.

Calafiori, who has been an integral part of Arsenal’s defense, picked up the injury in the second half of the game and was taken off in the 71st minute. He has since left Italy’s camp and will return to the UK for further medical tests.

This latest development is a setback for Arteta, who is already without Declan Rice, who will miss the game due to his controversial red card in the 1-1 draw with Brighton last weekend. Rice’s absence was a significant blow to the team, and Calafiori’s injury may prove to be another obstacle for the Gunners to overcome.

Italy’s Football Association has confirmed that Calafiori will miss their next Nations League fixture against Israel on Monday evening, which will give Arsenal some respite in the hopes that the defender can recover in time for the Tottenham match. However, Arteta will need to assess the severity of the injury and decide whether Calafiori is ready to return to action or whether he needs more time to recover.

The Arsenal manager will be hoping for a swift recovery for Calafiori, as the team looks to build on their recent performances and secure a crucial win against their London rivals. With Calafiori’s injury adding to the already lengthy injury list, Arteta will need to make some tough decisions about who to play and how to strengthen his team’s defense.