Riccardo Calafiori Set to Miss Arsenal's Premier League Clash with Liverpool

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 22: Riccardo Calafiori of Arsenal goes down with a injury as Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal checks on him during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD3 match between Arsenal FC and FC Shakhtar Donetsk at Emirates Stadium on October 22, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori is set to miss the highly anticipated Premier League clash with Liverpool this Sunday after sustaining a minor knee injury in the midweek Champions League victory over Shakhtar Donetsk.

According to Corrieredellosport, Riccardo Calafiori avoided a serious knee injury after an awkward fall during Tuesday’s victory over Shakhtar Donetsk.

Calafiori, who joined Arsenal from Bologna in the summer, was forced off the pitch in the second half of Tuesday’s match after landing awkwardly and twisting his knee. The 22-year-old has already spent time on the sidelines this season due to a previous knee injury, and this latest setback is a concern for manager Mikel Arteta.

Calafiori’s injury is a “slight problem” with his medial collateral ligament, according to Arteta, and is expected to keep him out for a few weeks at most. This means he will not be available for the crucial match against Liverpool, which is a significant blow for Arsenal.

The Gunners are already dealing with several other injury concerns, including the absence of key players like Martin Odegaard, Bukayo Saka, and Jurrien Timber. With William Saliba also suspended, Arteta faces a selection headache as he tries to piece together his defense for the match.

Calafiori’s absence will be keenly felt, as he has been a regular in the team since his arrival, featuring at both left-back and center-back. His aggressive play and overlapping runs have been vital to Arsenal’s attacking and defensive strategies.

Arteta will now have to rely on other squad members to fill the void left by Calafiori. Oleksandr Zinchenko is the obvious replacement at left-back, but Arteta may also consider deploying Thomas Partey at right-back if Jurrien Timber is not fit.

Despite the challenges, Arteta remains optimistic about his team’s chances and is confident that they will be at their best on Sunday. The match against Liverpool will be a true test of Arsenal’s depth and resilience as they aim to close the gap at the top of the Premier League table.