Arsenal have been dealt a blow ahead of their UEFA Champions League semi-final first leg against Paris Saint-Germain, with Italian defender Riccardo Calafiori ruled out due to an ongoing knee injury. Mikel Arteta confirmed the update during his pre-match press conference at London Colney.
Calafiori Injury Latest: Arsenal Star Out of PSG Clash
Fans searching for the latest Calafiori injury update ahead of Arsenal vs PSG were given a definitive answer by Mikel Arteta: the defender is still not fit. Calafiori has not featured for Arsenal since their 1-0 win over Chelsea prior to the March international break.
The 21-year-old picked up a knee injury while on international duty with Italy, twisting his leg awkwardly during a Nations League quarter-final loss to Germany.
Medical reports later revealed a strain to his collateral ligament, originally expected to keep him sidelined for three weeks. However, the recovery has taken longer than expected, with Calafiori now missing over five weeks of competitive action.
Will Riccardo Calafiori Return for the Second Leg?
Although early optimism suggested a return before or during the semi-final tie, Calafiori did not appear in Arsenal training on Monday—just 24 hours before the first leg against PSG at the Emirates Stadium.
Arteta’s confirmation leaves the door slightly open for a return in the second leg, but only if recovery progress accelerates in the coming days.
Earlier this month, Arteta shared, “He is doing quite a lot of stuff, and we just need to make the right steps now to make sure when he is back, he is in a good place to perform.”
For now, though, Arsenal will be without one of their key defensive options for at least the first 90 minutes of this highly anticipated European tie.
Arsenal Team News: Thomas Partey Suspended, Ben White Could Return
Calafiori isn’t Arsenal’s only absentee. Thomas Partey is suspended for the PSG clash, having picked up a late yellow card during the dramatic win over Real Madrid in the quarter-finals.
However, there is positive Arsenal injury news too. Both Ben White and Mikel Merino returned to training after missing last weekend’s draw with Crystal Palace.
Arteta said, “Ben White and Mikel Merino were able to train, and we will see if they are able to start tomorrow.”
Their return would help reinforce the squad depth, particularly in the absence of Gabriel, Calafiori and Partey.
