Italian newspaper warns Calafiori the hard work starts now at Arsenal | OneFootball

Italy international Riccardo Calafiori continues to earn rave reviews for his performance on his full Premier League debut for Arsenal in their 2-2 draw with reigning champions Manchester City, but some outlets back on home soil warn the 22-year-old that the hard work starts now.

Calafiori lined up as a starter for the first time in Arsenal colours over the weekend, lining up against Pep Guardiola’s City in the biggest Premier League game of the season so far.

Not only did he score a fantastic goal off his left foot from the edge of the area, Calafiori also played a massive part in getting Arsenal back into the game and defending their lead after being reduced to 10 men.

The former Bologna centre-back earned encouraging reviews from the British media as well, coming away with an average rating of 8/10.

The hard work starts now for Calafiori

However, La Gazzetta dello Sport warn that the real hard work begins now. Calafiori was awarded a lengthy settling-in period when he first arrived at Arsenal, only playing for 42 minutes over the first four league games of the season.

There have also been suggestions that he was only given the nod against City because Arsenal full-back Benjamin White was in need of a rest.

Though he has impressed in every brief appearance so far, the difficult part for Calafiori will be confirming himself as a starter in a settled Arsenal back line and then keeping his place in the starting line-up.

With the partnership of Gabriel and William Saliba unlikely to be broken up any time soon, Calafiori is most likely to continue featuring at left-back, but it remains to be seen whether he keeps his place in the starting XI for Saturday’s visit from Leiccester City.