Arsenal have new weapon in title fight after Riccardo Calafiori shows why he was worth the wait | OneFootball

Italian impressed on his full debut at Manchester City and gives Mikel Arteta crucial flexibility in defence

As soon as the ball hit the back of the net, Riccardo Calafiori was off and no one was going to stop him.

But Calafiori was not wheeling away in an aimless manner. He was making a beeline for the touchline and Mikel Arteta.

Title weapon: Riccardo Calafiori dismissed interest from Chelsea and Real Madrid before joining Arsenal

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Arteta was one of the key reasons why Calafiori moved to Arsenal in the summer and that’s why it was no surprise the defender wanted to mark this moment with his new manager.

After speaking with Arteta over the summer, Calafiori was clear in his mind that he didn’t want to play for anyone else.

Chelsea were especially keen on him and there was even a sense late on that Real Madrid were ready to move, but Calafiori was adamant. He wanted to play for Arteta and was happy to wait while the move rumbled on for much of the summer.

It certainly feels like it was worth the wait now and Calafiori’s full debut was a promising one. Thrust into a pulsating game at the Etihad Stadium, he held his own and showed why Arsenal were happy to pay Bologna £42million for his services.

There were some shaky moments early on, not least when Savinho span him before he teed up Erling Haaland to score City’s opening goal. Calafiori got too tight to the City winger - perhaps hungry to make his mark - and in a flash he was out of position and Arsenal were behind.

The fear then was that he would fold at a time when City were dominant and Arsenal were rocking. But Calafiori recovered well and his brilliant goal just over 10 minutes later more than made amends for his tough start.

Arsenal played a quick free-kick down the left to Gabriel Martinelli and, when the winger turned, Calafiori was there arriving on the edge of the box. Barely breaking stride, he curled past Ederson to find the far corner.

One of the reasons Arsenal liked Calafiori so much was his personality. A serious knee injury could have derailed his career as a youngster, but he fought back.

Arteta loves fighters and in Calafiori he has another one. Even after a shaky start, Calafiori didn’t hide and his goal swung the momentum Arsenal’s way.

“He was great,” said Arteta. “To have the first Premier League game in this context - chapeau. He’s got so much personality, so much energy. The quality that he has shown today, I was really impressed.”

It was on the ball where Calafiori really caught the eye against City, marauding forward in the same way he did for Italy at Euro 2024. No Arsenal player who started the match had a higher pass completion, with Calafiori only misplacing one of his 18 passes.

Defensively he put a shift in too, though, especially when Arsenal had 10 men in the second half and essentially played in a 5-4-0 formation. Calafiori won more tackles than any other Arsenal player, while only Declan Rice and Gabriel bettered his tally of three blocks.

Arsenal’s defence was the best in the Premier League last season and Calafiori has just made it even stronger

Arsenal’s defence was the best in the Premier League last season and Calafiori has just made it even stronger. The fact that Arteta was able to bench Ben White, with Jurrien Timber moving to right-back and Calafiori starting on the other flank, underlines the remarkable depth Arsenal have at the back.

Calafiori gives them another weapon. He is different to Timber and White, often looking to play quick and short with team-mates to get Arsenal up the pitch. His tall and rangy strides make him stand out from everyone else and the fact he is left-footed gives Arsenal much better balance.

Left-back was a problem area for Arteta all last season. But, after the way Calafiori and Timber have started this season, it could quickly become a headache for all the right reasons.