Mikel Arteta has admitted that Arsenal summer recruit Riccardo Calafiori was ‘a touch emotional’ after suffering an injury scare in the 4-2 victory over Leicester City.
Calafiori, who joined Arsenal for £42 million from Bologna this summer, made his second Premier League start on Saturday against newly promoted Leicester.
The Italian defender played every minute at Emirates Stadium, but appeared to be in pain as Arsenal celebrated their second goal, and he fell awkwardly after fighting for a header late on.
Calafiori was spotted holding his left knee and wearing a knee brace as he exited the stadium following the 4-2 victory, which was clinched with two injury-time goals.
According to reports from international publications, Calafiori was in tears in the changing room as he feared the worst after suffering a catastrophic injury to the same knee in 2018 that sidelined him for over a year.
Arteta acknowledges Calafiori was ’emotional’ following the win, but claims he and Ben White, who missed the Leicester encounter, are ‘in contention’ to play Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.
‘Those are the two players that are in contention,’ Arteta stated in his pre-match news conference before of Arsenal’s Champions League encounter against PSG.
We must review them today. We did not hold a training session yesterday. Obviously, he [Calafiori] was emotional after the game; we’ll see how he is today.
When asked what has struck him about Calafiori since his summer transfer to north London, Arteta replied, “How willing he is.”
‘When I chatted with him, he made it plain that he wanted to come here. He believed he’d be a great fit here, and he was.
‘He constantly smiles, and he is pleasant. He is also a warrior who will go over and beyond for the squad. He possesses all of those attributes.
Arsenal began their Champions League campaign with a goalless draw against Atalanta last week and now face French champions Paris Saint-Germain.
Arteta stated, “We are looking forward to it.” ‘These are the types of evenings we want to have against a great opponent. We’re ready for it.
‘We missed it for several years, and last year was the first time we could do it. This season’s group stage differs somewhat.
‘The opponent we’ll face tomorrow is perhaps the greatest level in European football.
‘But it’s a tremendous chance for us to show how we handle it, how prepared we are, and how we can impose ourselves in this type of situation.’
Arteta also praised PSG coach Luis Enrique, who has led Spain, Barcelona, and the French giants during his outstanding managing career.
