Emmanuel Petit questions why Mikel Arteta signed £42m star for Arsenal

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Emmanuel Petit has questioned why Mikel Arteta signed £42m defender Riccardo Calafiori last summer instead of bolstering Arsenal’s attacking options.

The Gunners saw off competition from London rivals Chelsea to sign Italy international Calafiori from Bologna.

Calafiori only spent one season with Bologna but impressed Arsenal with his performances for the Serie A side and as he starred for Italy during their brief Euro 2024 campaign.

The 22-year-old enjoyed a promising start to his Gunners career, helping Arsenal keep clean sheets in his first two appearances and then scoring a superb goal in a thrilling 2-2 draw with Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium.

Calafiori has had his issues with injuries recently, missing almost two months of the season, and was absent at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday for Arsenal’s FA Cup defeat to Manchester United.

Petit says he is a ‘big fan’ of Calafiori but has questioned why Arsenal pushed to sign the Italian defender rather than strengthening their attacking options.

Arteta opted not to bring a new striker to the club last summer and the decision appears to be backfiring, with Arsenal’s lack of cutting edge a problem in Sunday’s defeat to United.

Kai Havertz is Arsenal’s top goalscorer this season with seven. Only Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli have reached five for the north London club.

Asked if Arsenal need to sign a new frontman during the January transfer window, Petit told Casino Utan Spelpaus: ‘They should have addressed that in the last transfer window.

‘They should have bought a striker. I know that they extended the quality of the squad with a couple of players, but they added to positions they were well covered in.

‘They signed Riccardo Calafiori, but they already had two or three players that could play at left back. 

‘I'm a big fan of Calafiori but when you look at it, when you look at the young guy Lewis-Skelly, he's doing so well, and Zinchenko is on the bench most of the time, so they had that part of the pitch covered.

‘I can understand that when you play every three days and you have to compete in every competition, that you need squad depth, but the striker position was a priority.

‘I don’t know why Arsenal didn't go for a proper striker last summer. Arsenal won't be able to bring in the top, top quality striker they desire in January.

‘They won't be able to do it. I know they have some wingers and strikers on their shopping list, I know the fans are desperate to see someone coming in who can convert all the chances that the team creates, but it's not going to happen in January.

‘The January market is a very difficult market to shop in.’

Arsenal lost to Newcastle United in the first leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final just a few days before their FA Cup exit at the hands of Manchester United.

Barring a comeback at St James’ Park, Arsenal will be out of both domestic cup competitions, their hopes of winning a trophy this season fading.

Petit still believes they can challenge Liverpool for the Premier League title, however, as they look to make up six points at the top of the table. Arne Slot’s side, who have lost just twice this season, also have a game in hand.

‘The race for the Premier League is not over yet,’ Petit added. ‘When you look at Liverpool, they have a six-point advantage, with a game in hand against Everton.

‘That doesn't mean that they will win easily at Goodison Park. That is a derby and they just changed manager as well.

‘That could be extra motivation for Everton. We all know that it's never easy to travel away at Goodison Park.

‘For the moment, Liverpool have a six-point cushion. When I look at Liverpool's schedule, they have been struggling in the last few weeks in terms of results. And then the Champions League is coming back.

‘When I look at the schedule, they will face a top, top team during the last six months of the Premier League. The biggest enemy for Liverpool is themselves.

‘They have their destiny in their hands. So if they do the right things, they will be champions.

‘But the fight in the Premier League, everything goes so fast. You never know what will happen. So, six points is not a big target to reach.

‘Even if it's nine points, Arsenal have to play against Liverpool in the second part of the season. You never know what can happen.

‘The fact that Arsenal is not involved in the FA Cup and could be heading out of the League Cup, that may help them focus on the Premier League.’

Arsenal face a crucial clash with north London rivals Tottenham on Wednesday night as they look to reignite their campaign and pile more misery on struggling Spurs.

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