Gunners Breathe Sigh of Relief Over Key Defender
Arsenal have received a significant boost ahead of next Sunday's crucial North London derby against Tottenham, with defender Riccardo Calafiori expected to be fit despite suffering an injury while on international duty with Italy.
The 23-year-old was forced to leave the Italian camp ahead of their final World Cup qualifier against Norway after experiencing discomfort. This news arrived just hours after Arsenal's Gabriel Magalhaes sustained an injury playing for Brazil, presenting manager Mikel Arteta with a fresh defensive headache.
Gattuso's Fair Play Eases Arsenal Fears
Italy manager Gennaro Gattuso provided clarity on Calafiori's situation during a press conference in Milan. "Calafiori left the training camp," Gattuso confirmed. "We tried him, but he had a few issues. I thank him for his commitment: he stayed here for a week, he could have played perhaps, but it wouldn't have been fair to him or Arsenal."
This sporting decision from the Italian setup has worked in Arsenal's favour. Contrary to initial concerns, Mirror Football understands the club anticipates Calafiori will be ready to face Tottenham. The same optimism does not extend to Gabriel Magalhaes, who is now considered a major doubt for the high-stakes fixture.
Defensive Reshuffle on the Cards for Arteta
The Brazilian football association released a statement confirming the severity of Gabriel's issue, revealing scans showed a muscle injury in his right thigh. This rules him out of Brazil's upcoming match and places his immediate club future in doubt.
With Gabriel likely unavailable, Calafiori emerges as the prime candidate to step into the central defence alongside William Saliba. This potential shift would likely see summer signing Piero Hincapie slot in at left-back, a position where Calafiori has been a consistent starter this season.
In more positive news for the Gunners, the treatment room is beginning to clear. Attackers Viktor Gyokeres and Noni Madueke are both hoping to be available for the Spurs clash. Furthermore, key players including Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Martinelli are set to return to action in the coming weeks, providing a timely lift as the demanding festive schedule approaches.
Perhaps the most welcome return is that of striker Gabriel Jesus, who is on the cusp of a comeback after 11 months out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury. When asked about Jesus' progress recently, Arteta remained cautious but positive, highlighting the player's energy and the positive reaction from his teammates upon his return to group training.
