Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has outlined his plans for Riccardo Calafiori’s highly anticipated debut for the Gunners.
Calafiori set for Lyon debut
Calafiori, who joined Arsenal in a £42 million transfer from Serie A side Bologna about a week and a half ago, is yet to feature for the team. The Italian defender was absent from the squad in Arsenal’s latest pre-season friendly against Bayer Leverkusen but is expected to make his debut against Lyon this Sunday.
Speaking to the media after the match, Arteta explained the 22-year-old’s absence: “With regards to Riccardo, so much has happened to him in one week.”
Calafiori on Instagram 🔥
“🔜♥️🤍” pic.twitter.com/XFMeWbMRMW
— Doc (@karthikadhaigal) August 8, 2024
“He has come into a new environment, with a completely different methodology and training, and we are managing him.”
“We want to do it slowly, to get him in the best possible way. Hopefully, on Sunday, he will be available to play some minutes.”
Key players back in training
While Calafiori missed out, several senior players, including Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice, made their first appearances of the pre-season. They had missed the U.S. tour after receiving extended vacations following their involvement in the UEFA Euros. Arsenal stormed to a 4-1 victory with goals from Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Leandro Trossard, and Oleksandr Zinchenko.
Arteta emphasized the importance of having the returning players ready for their season opener in a week’s time.
“The season starts in nine or ten days, so they have to be ready,” the manager said.
“These are the demands they have right now. We really look after them when they are with us, and when we have the ability to give them days off, we do.”
“We gave them days off before the start of the Euros, and we’ve given them the rest that they needed.”
“The best thing to do is to look in their faces and see that spark in their eyes, to come back and say: ‘I don’t want to miss it because I know how hard it is going to be.’ That is the best sign, that the players want it.”
