THREE REASONS WHY RICCARDO CALAFIORI MIGHT HAVE TO BE PATIENT.
Riccardo Calafiori has been the only major incoming we’ve seen this transfer window, coming off the back of a successful Euro campaign individually, the Italian international will be hoping to carry on that rich vein of form into an Arsenal shirt. His profile and all rounded nature means he will offer something different whether deployed as a leftback or Central defender Nevertheless patience will be needed from all parties before we can get to see the best of of him consistently. Many Factors can contribute to this but today I’ll be talking about three.
COMPETITION FOR PLACES AT LEFTBACK:
One place where Arsenal have continued to strengthen over the past few years has been the backline, the left back slot in particular, and competition for places will naturally come along with it, this is a very good thing though given the amount of top level matches we’ll be playing next season. This might unfortunately mean that Calafiori will not be one of the first names on the teamsheet, the particular area he favours is already stacked, we have the likes of Jurrien Timber, Zinchenko, Tomiyasu, Kiwior (if he stays) and the young Lewis Skelly all vying for a starting berth with him, so therefore he might have to earn it or wait.
ADAPTABILITY:
With all due respect to the Italian top division, it is in by no means comparable to the harsh demands of the premier league. From getting used to new surroundings and culture to getting used to the best league in the world, adapting from making these changes might take him a little while, therefore he might not be favored to start games. This might actually not be the case however given how good he speaks English for an Italian, and also he has actually visited the Emirates in the past so it might go well.
ARSENAL’S DEFENSIVE PARTNERSHIP:
It’s no secret that Arsenal’s central defensive partnership has been one of the keys we’ve used to keep challenging for the title, so therefore breaking up that partnership without being forced by injuries would make no sense to Mikel Arteta. Calafiori played the majority of last season as the left centerback for Bologna and given the importance of Gabriel Magalhães to the team I don’t think he’ll be starting over him just yet, but who knows what might be going through the head of the boss.
Or do you think Arteta will throw him in at the deep end against Wolves?
KENNETH BENJAMIN
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I think he should be given an opportunity, not necessarily a whole game, but part of one (assuming it’s OK the way the game is going) to introduce him to the wonders of PL football.
He is an expensive asset – over £40m including add-ons – so I don’t see how, or why, he needs to decorate the bench unnecessarily.
Also, better to get him game time early on than suddenly (because of injury, suspension whatever to other players) to have to throw him into the mix, perhaps in a particularly important game, through necessity. That would be a bigger risk surely.
Am not sure timber is in arteta’s plan.
yes Timber is in Arteta’s plans
With the dangerous Neto having moved to Chelsea, I suspect that Zinchenko will start the season at LB with Califiori and Timber on the bench.
I agree with all the points of this post but I have a feeling that MA might deploy him not as a left back.
I think his versatility caters for him to play as LCB if we want to revert to a 3 and to possibly bring on a spare man in Midfield, as a 6 if MA wants more attacking/balance progression from the left and also to bring on to see a game out if we are in the last 10 minutes of a game.
In my eyes, MA has requested the equivalent to Timber that offers this on the right. We may possibly see a progression in MAs tactical development as I just don’t understand the stockpiling of left sided defenders?
In addition he also is a ready replacement for Gabby if injured or if it is one game too much.
I’m more interested in where Tommy fits into this as Artedu are renowned for offering new contracts to players that are surplus to requirements?
And after saying all that… I think we have just bought our version of Rodri. If I’m not mistaken he won a lot of duels last season and we all know that “not winning duels” are a non negotiable to MA.🤣
Our LBs are Timber 1st and Zinchenko 2nd. It’s not a wait and see scenario Califiori was bought to compete with Gabriel. Will he step in at lb at times of course just like Kiwior and Tomiyasu but it’s not his place.
If Calafiori was brought in to play LB we would have sold Zinchenko and bought another CB, use logic people.
I agree. I think moving forward we will use a back 3 of Saliba Gabriel and Calafiori
I think this will allow White and eg Zinch to.bomb forward
I have a strange feeling and hope that Arteta could go 3 at the back now and then or move to, with the players at his disposal. It gives us so many more options, defensively and attack wise. We haven’t signed him to sit on the bench and he hasn’t come to sit on the bench.