Arsenal news & stats: Mikel Arteta reveals dual role for new signing Riccardo Calafiori

Mikel Arteta has revealed he intends to use new signing Riccardo Calafiori as both a centre-back and a left-back. 

Calafiori played a starring role as Bologna secured a shock fifth-place finish in Serie A last season, securing Champions League football. The 22-year-old was first among his teammates last season for interceptions (50), aerial duels won (60), headed clearances (47), and possessions won in the defensive (107) and middle thirds (81). At the other end, he also provided a team-high five assists and scored twice.

That was then followed up by an eye-catching showing at Euro 2024, with Calafiori walking away as one of the few Italian players able to hold their heads high.

It’s little surprise that Arsenal made signing the defender their top priority. Indeed, Arteta has had to deal with a number of headaches at the back over the last couple of seasons, simply due to a shortage of bodies.

“It was the numbers. We only had six defenders in the backline and at this level, you have to be really lucky to sustain the season like this,” Arteta told reporters following Calafiori’s signing being made official. “We were, because William [Saliba] for example and Gabriel nearly played every minute, we played more than 50% more minutes than the previous season and if we are able to do that consistently over the next three or four years that’s a big question mark. Obviously, you cannot just bet on that, that’s a big bet and we don’t want to take that bet.”

Of course, it’s not just at centre-back where Arteta has had to perform a juggling act. Last season, the Gunners were found wanting at left-back thanks to fitness issues and a loss of form from Oleksandr Zinchenko, while Jakub Kiwior performed admirably as a back-up but failed to nail down his spot.

With that in mind, Calafiori is the perfect signing, with the Italian playing 49 times at left-back and 43 times at centre-back across his club career so far, according to Transfermarkt.

“Both positions, especially the way we want to play and the way we want to evolve in our game models. He is a player who is going to fit into what we want,” Arteta responded when asked which position Calafiori will occupy in the Gunners’ backline.

Calafiori ‘adamant’ he only ever wanted to join Arsenal, Arteta reveals

Arsenal’s capture of Calafiori looks even more impressive with the defender also heavily linked with Real Madrid and Juventus this summer. Former Juve centre-back Leonardo Bonucci even expressed his disappointment that the 22-year-old would not be signing in Turin, such is the regard in which he’s held in Italy.

But Arteta has revealed it was actually very easy to convince Calafiori to come to the Emirates, with the defender seemingly only ever having one destination in mind.

“I spoke to him one or two times and I knew the other things [teams being interested],” said Arteta, continuing: “I wasn’t really sure if we could do it or not, but he was adamant: ‘let me know when you’re ready, my bags are ready and I just want to come to Arsenal’. Those were his words and when you have that feeling, someone with that willingness to join us and make us better and that determination, it’s something really powerful and as a club, we should be really proud of that.”