Arsenal have been dealt a fresh injury concern as defender Riccardo Calafiori has been forced to cut short his international duties with Italy and return to London.
Early Return from International Duty
The 23-year-old left-back departed the Italy camp on Saturday, 15th November 2025, consequently missing his nation's 2026 World Cup qualifier against Norway scheduled for Sunday evening. Prominent journalist Fabrizio Romano broke the news, stating Calafiori had returned to be assessed by Arsenal's medical staff.
Italy manager Gennaro Gattuso explained the situation, noting: "He tried to be available but he can't force now." This development follows reports from Italy that Calafiori had been training alone earlier in the week and was absent from Italy's match against Moldova.
Concern for Arsenal's Title Charge
The news represents a significant worry for Mikel Arteta's league-leading squad. Calafiori has been instrumental this season, starting in all 11 of Arsenal's Premier League matches so far. His potential absence comes as the Gunners maintain a four-point advantage over Manchester City.
According to reports from Football London, the club's medical team have been notified of his return and do not currently anticipate serious complications. The issue is believed to be a hip injury, though it is not thought to be severe.
Club vs Country Tensions
Italian publication La Repubblica had previously suggested that Arsenal would have preferred Calafiori to skip international duty entirely to recover from the hip issue, fearing it could be aggravated. However, it was reported that Gattuso and delegation chief Gianluigi Buffon encouraged players to prioritise Italy's World Cup qualification campaign.
Arsenal will be hoping for positive news as they prepare for a demanding fixture list, starting with the North London derby against Tottenham on Sunday, 23rd November. There is better news on the injury front elsewhere, with Noni Madueke and Kai Havertz making significant strides in their recovery from knee injuries.
Meanwhile, Norway boss Stale Solbakken believes Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard is still "some distance away" from his own return. Gabriel Jesus is also expected to make a comeback ahead of the new year following ACL surgery.
