Former French international and Arsenal defender, William Gallas, has expressed his confidence in the imminent signing of Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori by the Gunners. However, he also highlighted a potential issue that could arise with this new addition. Gallas believes that securing the services of Calafiori would be a shrewd move for Arsenal. The versatile 22-year-old defender was one of the few players from Italy who managed to maintain their reputation despite a disappointing Euro 2024 campaign.
The Azzurri were defeated by Switzerland at the last 16 stage after barely making it through their group following an equaliser against Croatia at the last minute. Notably, Calafiori missed this defeat due to suspension and his absence was felt as Italy’s defence struggled without his commanding presence.
After enhancing his reputation at Bologna last season, several high-profile European clubs including Chelsea and Bayer Leverkusen have shown interest in him. However, it appears that Arsenal is on track to secure Calafiori’s services in a £40 million deal.
Fitting into Arteta's Plans
Despite this potential acquisition being seen as positive news for Arsenal fans, there are questions about where exactly Calafiori will fit into Mikel Arteta's plans. Given that Arsenal boasted one of the best defensive records in Premier League last season, breaking into their starting XI might prove challenging for him.
Furthermore, once Arteta completes this deal with Calafiori he is expected to focus on strengthening other areas such as midfield and forward line which could limit playing time for new signings like him. While Gallas feels confident about both parties benefiting from this deal - he does express concerns over how quickly and effectively Calafiori can adapt to the demands of Premier League matches, especially if his minutes on the field are limited.
Former Arsenal defender, William Gallas, said:
‘Still only 22, Riccardo Calafiori has shown a lot of quality and I think Arsenal would be a very good match for him,’ Gallas, the former Arsenal captain, told Lord Ping. The only issue would be giving him time to adapt to the Premier League and give him a chance to get a run of games in the starting XI.
‘He’s still young and he still needs to improve his game, he doesn’t quite have that experience yet. At that age you need to play alongside a player like Thiago Silva but if it’s William Saliba and Gabriel, you can still learn so much from them.’
Arsenal's title prospects
Despite these potential challenges, Gallas remains optimistic about Arsenal's prospects in the upcoming season. He believes that even without a big-name attacking signing, his former club has what it takes to end next season as champions.
William Gallas added:
‘Even if Arsenal don’t get a big signing like Marcus Rashford, I think they will win the Premier League anyway. I think Arsenal will be champions, but they do need a new left-back and a striker. Gabriel Jesus is not the player to score 20 goals, even if he is fit all season.
‘So that’s why I think Arsenal need a striker, they need a different profile. But after the last two seasons coming so close, they have all the ingredients to be champions.’
While Calafiori’s potential move to Arsenal is seen as a positive step for both parties involved, there are still questions and concerns that need addressing. How Mikel Arteta manages this new addition and how quickly Calafiori adapts to English football will be key factors in determining their success in the coming season.
