Arsenal defender says he wants to learn to play in midfield

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Riccardo Calafiori says he is ready to play in as many different positions as possible to help Arsenal’s cause and would ‘love’ to learn how to be a midfielder.

The 22-year-old has enjoyed a promising start to life in English football on the back of a £42million move from Serie A outfit Bologna to Arsenal ahead of the 2024/25 campaign.

While injury problems have somewhat hampered his progress in recent months, Calafiori has made 26 appearances in all competitions for the Gunners, while chipping in with three goals.

Calafiori is perhaps unfortunate that his debut season has coincided with the extraordinary rise of Hale End academy graduate Myles Lewis-Skelly, who had made the left-back berth his own this term.

The Italy international is, though, helped by his versatility, which was a key factor in Arsenal’s pursuit last summer, and has shown a willingness to fill in at centre-back for Mikel Arteta.

Calafiori’s playing style and tendency to push forward to become an additional midfielder appears well suited to Arsenal given Arteta’s affection for inverted full-backs.

However, speaking to Rivista Undici magazine, Calafiori revealed his desire to go one step further and learn how to play as an out-and-out midfielder should the opportunity arise.

‘There are many things that I still don't know how to do,’ he said.

‘I want to keep learning to play in as many different roles as possible.

‘For now, I know how to play two roles, but have always been passionate about midfielders and would love to learn how to play there.’

Calafiori has been taken aback by Arteta’s meticulous nature since his arrival in north London and counts the Spaniard among his most influential coaches.

‘Thiago Motta first, then Luciano Spalletti and Mikel Arteta all changed me, in terms of my vision, the spaces to occupy, everything,’ he added.

‘I think that there are many defenders with my characteristics out there, who are probably even better than me.

‘But I do a lot of work off the field and perhaps that makes the difference.’

Calafiori views Italy’s 1-0 defeat to Spain at Euro 2024 as a turning point in his career, despite his 55th-minute own goal proving decisive in the group-stage contest.

‘That is the game I hold dearest in my heart and the one I will never forget,’ he explained.

‘It will always be one of my greatest satisfactions, the way I was able to react after that own goal. I think I played even better than I had before.

‘That was like the apex of a journey that had started a while back. The Riccardo of seven or eight months earlier would certainly not have reacted like that.’

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