Riccardo Calafiori rebirth gives Arsenal a valuable weapon that can solve key problem for Mikel Arteta | OneFootball

Italian’s return to form and fitness will help Arsenal be more unpredictable and is a major boost to their title bid

Fit again: Riccardo Calafiori

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Few positions have been as crucial to Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal as left-back.

Myles Lewis-Skelly continued that evolution last season, bringing physicality to the role.

But now Riccardo Calafiori is out to prove how valuable a weapon he can be, too.

Calafiori impressed against Manchester United last weekend after starting at left-back ahead of Myles Lewis-Skelly

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Calafiori was given the nod for Sunday’s season-opener in the Premier League at Old Trafford and made the perfect start to the campaign.

The Italian helped Arsenal keep a clean sheet and scored the only goal in a 1-0 win.

Calafiori will view his fast start as a reward for the hard work he put in during the summer break.

He was among the players that headed to Marbella before pre-season started to work with Arsenal’s lead physical performance coach Sam Wilson.

Before that there had been speculation that Calafiori could look to leave Arsenal and return to Italy after one season in north London, but Standard Sport understands the 23-year-old was always set on staying at Emirates Stadium this summer.

Calafiori endured a stop-start first season, restricted to 29 appearances by six separate injuries.

Determined to hit the ground running, he began training early this summer - knowing that a full pre-season would stand him in good stead.

Calafiori scored the winner at Old Trafford

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“He has the capacity to change the energy,” said Arteta, after Arsenal beat Manchester United last weekend.

“He comes in this room and he changes the energy in the room, he changes the energy in the team. He has an aura, he has a presence that is special.

“And then he’s a player that is very unpredictable for the opponent because he can occupy very different spaces.

“He can do things in and around your box, in the middle, in the opposition box, that is very difficult to predict.”

Arsenal view Calafiori as a player that provides competition and cover at left-back and in the heart of their defence.

Those in Italy believe his best position is at centre-back, but in this Arsenal team there is a sense Calafiori may thrive as a left-back.

That role gives him more freedom to get forward and in just 30 games for the club he has already scored four goals.

Calafiori’s movement in the final third has proved effective and, by pushing forward, he is able to create space for Arsenal’s other attackers.

Calafiori is hungry to make an impact this season after an injury-hit first year at Arsenal

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The way Arteta has used him in pre-season has been in contrast to the role of Lewis-Skelly, who likes to tuck into midfield.

Calafiori has stayed wide and pushed high, overlapping in a manner more in keeping with a traditional full-back.

It has added a sense of unpredictability to how Arsenal set up - and that is something Arteta craves.

There was an argument last season that teams worked out how to frustrate the Gunners by sitting deep, but now Arteta has options to change the team’s approach.

If he wants control, then Lewis-Skelly can be used. If Arteta favours a direct approach, then Calafiori is an alternative.

There is also the option to use Jurrien Timber as a right-footed left-back, while Jakub Kiwior is an alternative if he stays.

It all adds to the belief that left-back, along with the other flank, is arguably the most competitive spot in this Arsenal team.

On early evidence, Calafiori is hungry and up for the fight - which is a huge boost for Arsenal.

If Arteta’s side are to go one better in the title race this season, Calafiori’s revival at left-back will prove a valuable weapon.