Arsenal have received an update on Riccardo Calafiori after the Gunners newcomer was forced off injured during Italy’s Nations League opener against France.
The versatile defender, a £42million summer signing from Serie A side Bologna, started for the Azzurri on Friday night as they recovered from Bradley Barcola’s opening goal inside just 12 seconds to triumph 3-1 in Group A2 thanks to goals from Federico Dimarco, Davide Frattesi and Giacomo Raspadori and an inspired performance from Newcastle midfielder Sandro Tonali on his first international appearance since serving a 10-month ban for breaching betting rules.
However, the only negative on an otherwise terrific night for Italy as they bounced back from a disappointing early end to their European Championship title defence in fine style with a first victory in Paris for 70 years saw Calafiori hurt during a collision with Ousmane Dembele.
The centre-back initially tried to play through the issue after receiving treatment on the pitch, but was eventually replaced by Alessandro Buongiorno with just under 20 minutes to play at the Parc des Princes.
The sight of Calafiori heading off injured ahead of a crucial first week back after the international break in which Arsenal face massive Premier League trips to north London foes Tottenham and title rivals Manchester City sandwiched between their Champions League opener away against Atalanta caused understandable panic among Gunners fans.
However, Italy boss Luciano Spalletti revealed after the game that he believed the problem was not serious and that the 22-year-old could well be fit to play when Italy face Israel in Budapest on Monday night.
“We need to assess Riccardo but with our staff, we’ve a good chance to have him back with us for the next game,” Spalletti said.
Such an update will come as a mighty relief to Arsenal and Mikel Arteta, who is already without Declan Rice against Spurs after the England midfielder’s controversial sending off against Brighton last weekend.
New signing Mikel Merino is also facing nearly two months out with a shoulder fracture suffered in his very first training session at London Colney after joining from Real Sociedad last week, while the likes of Gabriel Jesus (groin), Takehiro Tomiyasu (knee) and Kieran Tierney (hamstring) are also in the treatment room.
Martin Odegaard also suffered a knock against Brighton to provoke fears of a potential midfield crisis for Arteta against Tottenham, but the Arsenal captain allayed any injury concerns before starting and playing the full 90 minutes for Norway in their goalless draw away in Kazakhstan on Friday.
