In a potentially devastating blow for Italian football and Luciano Spalletti’s national team, Riccardo Calafiori was forced off with an injury during Arsenal’s Champions League victory against Shakhtar Donetsk. The young defender, who had been a key player in the match, was substituted in the 72nd minute, with manager Mikel Arteta bringing on 17-year-old midfielder Myles Lewis-Skelly in his place.
Calciomercato detail how the incident occurred when Calafiori attempted to change direction, causing his knee to buckle and his ankle to twist unnaturally. The Italian immediately signaled to the bench, and despite a brief attempt to continue, he was unable to carry on. The audible cries of pain from Calafiori were heard throughout the stadium, raising serious concerns about the severity of the injury.
While the full extent of the damage is yet to be determined, there are fears that Calafiori may have suffered ligament damage to his right knee. This is particularly worrying given his history of knee injuries, having previously ruptured all the ligaments in his left knee during his time in Roma’s youth academy.
Arteta expressed his concern in the post-match interview, stating, “Riccardo Calafiori’s substitution is somewhat worrying. We’ll have to wait and see.” The loss of Calafiori could be a significant blow for Arsenal, who face crucial Premier League matches against Newcastle and Chelsea in the coming weeks. Additionally, their upcoming Champions League clash with Inter Milan at San Siro on November 6th is now in jeopardy.
The injury adds to Arsenal’s defensive woes, with Jurrien Timber already sidelined and William Saliba suspended following a red card in the recent defeat to Bournemouth. The club’s medical staff will be working diligently to assess Calafiori’s condition, with further tests scheduled to determine the full extent of the injury.
