Riccardo Calafiori: I Need To Improve My Availability

By The Editor
on 26th January 2025

Riccardo Calafiori wants to remain fit…

Arsenal hero Riccardo Calafiori wants to improve his availability after netting the winner against Wolves in a match marred by horrendous refereeing decisions, TNT Sports Mexico reports.

Calafiori has endured a stop-start opening campaign in his Gunners career and has only recently returned from a second consecutive mucular injury.

Signed from Bologna last summer for a fee in the region of €50 million, fans have felt uneasy about his robustness given his history in Italy.

The versatile defender almost lost his career after suffering a serious knee injury as a teenager while playing for Roma, rupturing his ACL and his meniscus – needing a complete reconstruction of the knee.

It was thought that he’d no longer return the same. Still, Calafiori defied the odds. After being signed by Bologna, he produced a stunning season last year and only missed two games under Thiago Motta’s tutelage.

“It’s started very well,” the 22-year-old said when asked about his first few months at the club.

“In truth, what I do want to do is improve and be available for all the matches because I have had some muscular problems. Now I want to play and help the team until the end of the season.”

It’s been one of those campaigns for us this season. One we’ve been dreading but hoped wouldn’t materialise as we continue to be derailed by constant injury setbacks.

As Mikel Arteta welcomed William Saliba and Myles Lewis-Skelly from the squad that faced Dinamo Zagreb in midweek, we lost Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino for the trip to Wolves.

The skipper was ill while Merino picked up a knock, adding to the selection headache for the coaching staff.

With a potential three-match ban looming for Lewis-Skelly, Calafiori staying fit would be a welcome boost ahead of yet another crucial run of fixtures.