Pundit unsure if Calafiori should be centre-back rather than left back

Years after taking over at Emirates Stadium, Mikel Arteta may have finally discovered his ideal left-back in Riccardo Calafiori. Since the Spaniard started assembling his Arsenal lineups, the selection of left back has been inconsistent.

We’ve seen many changes at left back, including Kieran Tierney, Nuno Tavares, Cedric Soares, Oleksander Zinchenko, Jakub Kiwior, and Takehiro Tomiyasu. These adjustments are unsustainable for Arsenal’s left wing. The Gunners view Calafiori, dubbed the “Ben White of the Left,” as the answer to their left back.

The Italian has been on a stratospheric rise since joining Bologna last summer, and his outstanding performance for Italy at the Euros further highlighted his exceptional talent. All signs suggest that he is a perfect fit for Arsenal, but Stuart Pearce has identified a crucial test he must pass to excel as Arsenal’s left back.

On talkSPORT, the ex-West Ham boss stated that, in addition to his fantastic attributes, how well he is in one-on-one situations will be the one huge test to see if the Euro 2024 standout is competent enough to be an Arsenal left back. When we were first linked with Riccardo Calafiori, I was left scratching my head. I had never heard of the Bologna defender, and it felt like we were being used to force through his move to Juventus; a tactic we had seen previously with Manuel Locatelli.

Whilst I have faith in both Mikel Arteta and Edu, I was unsure if a left sided centre back come left back was what we needed – after all, we had Gabriel and Jakub Kiwior as central defensive options and Oleksandr Zinchenko, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Jurrien Timber at left back. Add in Kieran Tierney (who I expect to leave) and we are well stocked on the left-hand side of the defence.

So just why are we looking to spend £35m on what some have described as the new Paolo Maldini.

The answer lies in Calafiori’s versatility and potential to solidify a position that has seen too much fluctuation. Despite the existing options, none have convincingly made the left back spot their own. Calafiori’s defensive capabilities and attacking prowess make him an attractive prospect for a team aiming to challenge on multiple fronts.

Ultimately, the question remains: Is Calafiori coming to just be a backup for Gabriel as a centreback, or is he the long-term solution for Arsenal’s left-back woes? Only time will tell, but the investment in Calafiori suggests that Arteta sees him as more than just a backup, potentially reshaping the left side of Arsenal’s defense for years to come.

Given his success defensively in central defence, I believe PL right wingers will have a tough time facing Calafiori. In fact, with his ability to attack and invert, he could be Arsenal’s most complete fullback. I can’t wait for Calafiori’s Premier League debut against Wolves on August 17th, can you?

Darren N


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13 Comments

  1. I heard a rumour that Gabriel has been talking a lot with Ramsdale lately and bringing an apple to class.

  2. Calafiori started at LB. It was at Bolgna he was played has CB. Comfortable & strong in both positions. Play in a back 3 or 4. Awesome signing & great potential. LB for next season.

  3. Must keep Zinchenko. Can play left back or LMF like for Croatia. FA Cup. League Cup never mind CL & PL. Plenty of games & opportunities.

    1. Zinchenko has just signed a contract with a new agent, maybe because he doesn’t want to be Calafiori’s backup?

      Fabrizio Romano also said Arsenal will talk to Real Sociedad for Merino. If we sign a new left-sided AM, I think Zinchenko must be a squad rotation player

      1. Gai, one player Arsenal don’t need badly is Zichenko. Even in the absence of Calafiori Kiwior and Tomiyasu would do a better work at Left back defensively than Zichenko. Timber/White can always invert at RB. And since Arteta won’t try him in Xhaka’s position I don’t see him playing much games coming season. If Arsenal buy MMerino most likely DRice will return to a No6 because Merino has good passing skill for No8 and can score goals.

        1. In my opinion, Zinchenko’s technical and playmaking skills are better than our defenders’, but he’d likely have to find a new club if Merino comes

          Yes I also think Rice will return to the CDM position if we sign a new AM

          1. Zinchenko is liability on field. He can’t track back and defend. So unless he plays AM he is of no use. Just an below average player bought by Arteta. If he was bought buy someone else Arteta would have thrown him out.

  4. All bets are off currently, the way Arteta is structuring the preseason games, I think Calafiori might be starting centrally and moving into the midfield the way Timber is doing right now. It would be very hard to pinpoint where will he start.

  5. The “hype” machine is revving up as always happens before the player has even put an Arsenal shirt on, let alone kicked a ball for the club.

    I see that the article refers to some calling him “the new Paolo Maldini”. I hope he lives up to all this. Nevertheless, having seen many Arsenal signings – some great, others good, yet others disappointing, I’ll wait and see how he actually performs for us in whichever position he plays.

  6. It’s all very well talking about this guy but we still haven’t had concrete evidence that we’ve actually signed him yet. I read that he was supposed to have had a medical 3 days ago and join up with the squad in the U.S., well, has he had that medical, does anybody know.

  7. I think Calafiori will be deployed further forward than the position he previously played at some point. I’m talking of the left sided 8, given he’s confident with the ball and has got eye for through passes. I see it as a possibility.

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