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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Matt Verri

Arsenal: Riccardo Calafiori names moment that proves Gunners are capable of winning titles

Confident: Riccardo Calafiori believes Arsenal can get silverware over the line this season - (Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Riccardo Calafiori believes moments like his incredible block against Everton prove that Arsenal are ready to get over the line in the Premier League title race.

The Italian produced a 'scorpion block' to deny Dwight McNeil when it was still 0-0, acrobatically flinging a leg behind him to stop the goalbound effort.

Arsenal went on to win 2-0 and when Manchester City were then held to a draw by West Ham later that night, the Gunners opened up a nine-point advantage at the top of the Premier League.

Everton boss David Moyes drew attention to Calafiori's "unbelievable" block after the match and the Italian hopes it could prove crucial.

“I believe that with these small things, big things normally happen, something big is going to happen," Calafiori said.

Riccardo Calafiori has impressed for Arsenal throughout this campaign (Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Arsenal are comfortably clear at the top of the clean sheet standings this season.

David Raya has kept four more in the Premier League than Gianluigi Donnarumma, his nearest rival.

The Spaniard has had another strong season but his defenders in front of him have also been superb, with Calafiori pointing to Gabriel as the leader of the pack.

"We love to defend our house, our goal and we try to do everything," Calafiori said.

"I think for me it's quite new, what I did on Saturday. But I think Gabi is for sure the best in terms of putting his body to save our team.

"We need to learn from him. Obviously he's a top player, I don't need to speak about him."

Arsenal's win over Everton was inspired by Max Dowman's cameo off the bench, as the 16-year-old created one goal and then scored another deep into stoppage-time.

There were wild scenes inside the Emirates Stadium after Dowman became the youngest scorer in Premier League history.

The teenager, alongside many of his team-mates, was pushed into the fans in what turned into a scrum of celebration.

“I was so, so happy at the end of the game - especially with the second goal," Calafiori said.

"We were all happy, we ran towards him and the fans.

“It was almost a fight with the fans - in a nice way, obviously. It was amazing. Maybe the best moment of the season so far, at least in the Premier League, for sure."

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