Arsenal have been dealt a significant blow with the news that defender Riccardo Calafiori has withdrawn from international duty due to a hip injury. This development comes as a setback for the Gunners, especially ahead of their highly anticipated derby against Tottenham.
Calafiori had joined his Italian compatriots for their World Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Norway. However, he was seen training alone after complaining about a hip injury. The severity of this issue led to him missing out on Italy's 2-0 victory over Moldova and will also prevent him from participating in the final qualifier against Norway.
The Italian defender has been an integral part of Mikel Arteta’s squad this season, serving as the first-choice left-back. He played the full 90 minutes in Arsenal’s recent Premier League match, which ended in a 2-2 draw at Sunderland.
However, with Calafiori sidelined due to his hip issue, it raises questions about how Arteta will adjust his lineup for upcoming matches. The Gunners are set to face Tottenham immediately after the international break before taking on Bayern Munich and Chelsea later in December.
Gattuso's concerns
Italy manager Gennaro Gattuso had previously expressed his desire for players to prioritize Italy’s bid to qualify for next year’s tournament - particularly given they missed out on participation in Russia and Qatar. However, during his pre-match press conference ahead of Italy's game with Norway, he admitted reluctance towards pushing Calafiori beyond his limits considering his current physical condition.
Italy manager, Gennaro Gattuso, said:
"Riccardo joined the national team with a physical problem. He showed dedication to the shirt and we tried to make him grit his teeth, but we couldn't force it.
"Alessandro Buongiorno, Gianluca Mancini and others are there for that position. [Sandro] Tonali also won't be playing in the match, but due to a booking rather than an injury. We are not taking any risks. He'll be at the stadium, just like Calafiori."
As it stands now, there is no clear timeframe regarding how long Calafiori could be sidelined due to this injury. Upon returning from international duty, he will be assessed by Arsenal’s medical staff to determine the extent of his injury and the potential recovery period.
This injury setback for Calafiori is undoubtedly a significant blow for both Italy and Arsenal. For Italy, it means losing a key player in their final World Cup qualifier. For Arsenal, it presents challenges in their upcoming fixtures against Tottenham, Bayern Munich, and Chelsea. As fans eagerly await updates on Calafiori's condition, they will also be keen to see how both teams adapt to this unexpected situation.
