Arsenal Defender Risks Wrath After International Snub
Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori has reportedly chosen to ignore a direct request from manager Mikel Arteta by joining up with the Italian national team during the current international break. The 23-year-old is currently managing a hip problem, casting doubt on his availability for Italy's crucial World Cup qualifier against Moldova on Thursday.
Injury Concerns Clash with National Pride
According to reports from Italy, Calafiori has been training separately from the main squad under manager Gennaro Gattuso. The injury is not believed to be severe, and he could still feature in Italy's subsequent match against Norway this weekend. However, this decision directly contradicts the wishes of his club.
Italian newspaper La Repubblica suggests that Arsenal would have preferred Calafiori to remain in London to fully recover, thereby avoiding any risk of exacerbating the issue. This preference is understandable given the defender's importance to the Gunners' title charge; he has featured in every Premier League match this season for the league leaders.
The situation is complicated by a passionate stance from the Italian football federation. It is reported that Gattuso and delegation chief Gianluigi Buffon have urged players to prioritise the national team's World Cup qualification battle, even if they are not fully fit. This directive comes from the painful reality that Italy has missed the last two World Cups and faces a potential play-off route once again.
High Stakes for Arsenal's Festive Fixtures
For Arsenal, the timing is far from ideal. The club is already contending with a significant injury crisis, missing key attackers including Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Odegaard, and Gabriel Martinelli.
Arteta will be desperate to avoid adding another key name to that list with a daunting run of fixtures on the horizon. The Gunners are set to face arch-rivals Tottenham, European giants Bayern Munich, and Chelsea in a packed winter schedule.
Speaking before the break, Arteta emphasised the need for a reset, stating: "Now we reset with the international break, get the [international] players back nice and healthy... and we go again." He acknowledged the demanding period ahead and the crucial need for fan support.
With Arsenal holding a four-point lead at the top of the Premier League, the fitness of pivotal players like Calafiori could be the difference between ending their long wait for a title or falling short once more.
