Arsenal avoided having another player on the sidelines as latest scans reveal no major injury to Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori, per Team News and Tix on X.
The former Bologna star put up an energetic display against Leicester City and was present on the field for the entire tenure of the match. He added an extra dimension to the Gunner’s attack. The fans loved to see him link up so well with Gabriel Martinelli.
However, amid all the positives, the 22-year-old appeared to have picked up a knock on his knees while celebrating the winning goal with Leandro Trossard. He twists while grabbing the winger before falling to his knees.
Minutes later, he suffered another knock while battling for the ball with Foxes star Odsonne Edouard in the dying stages of the game.
Watch Calafiori after landing, he felt something pic.twitter.com/pH4ynan4Hz
— A (@aliftbll) September 29, 2024
Calafiori won the header and then fell to the ground, appearing to again hit his left knee. The defender was seen stretching out his leg and shaking off any discomfort.
But at full-time he was seen holding his knee, which did look like he suffered from a minor knock due to a sudden impact. He was later seen wearing a compression bandage while meeting the fans.
Several reports showed a sign of concern towards the Arsenal star, and the fans were hoping that there was nothing serious about the injury. Manager Mikel Arteta didn’t speak a word about Calafiori’s knock in the post-match interview.
Calafiori escapes injury scare
It has now been revealed that the full-back is fit and his scans show no major signs of injury. It still remains to be seen whether the manager prefers to place him in the starting XI against UCL opponents Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.
🚨BREAKING: Riccardo Calafiori’s scans have shown no sign of a major injury.
The worries after the game have been erased. Panic over.
[@Teamnewsandtix] pic.twitter.com/LjHiisHAR1
— now.arsenal (@now_arsenaI) September 30, 2024
He is a vital player, and the Gooners can’t afford to lose him at this moment. Calafiori has played four Premier League games (2 starts) this season and has looked sharp at the back.
With Ben White also a doubt for the next clash, Arteta would only have the inexperienced Myles Lewis-Skelly as a potential left-back option in the squad. Hence, the manager needs to think about whether he is ready to take a risk with Calafiori’s fitness since the versatile player was sidelined due to a horrific injury to the same knee early in his career.
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He might get some rest later this week as we expect White to be back for the Gunner’s Premier League clash against Southampton.
