Arsenal handed Riccardo Calafiori injury boost after double Mikel Arteta blow
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Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori was forced to leave Italy’s camp before their final World Cup qualifier after suffering an injury but there’s good news ahead of the North London derby
Arsenal expect to have Riccardo Calafiori available for next Sunday’s North London derby, despite the defender picking up a hip injury on international duty. Calafiori, 23, was forced to leave Italy’s camp ahead of their final World Cup qualifier at home to Norway.
The news came just hours before Arsenal team-mate Gabriel Magalhaes came off injured for Brazil on Saturday and handed Mikel Arteta yet another injury concern. Italy boss Gennaro Gattuso said at his pre-match press conference in Milan: “Calafiori left the training camp.
“We tried Calafiori, he had a few issues. I thank him for his commitment: he stayed here for a week, he could have played perhaps, but it wouldn’t have been fair to him or Arsenal.”
Mirror Football understands that despite Calafiori’s departure, Arsenal expect him to be available against Tottenham. That’s unlike Gabriel, who’s emerged as a major doubt.
In a statement, the Brazilian FA said: “Arsenal player Gabriel Magalhaes was re-evaluated this Sunday and underwent imaging tests that revealed a muscle injury in his right thigh. Therefore, the player will not travel with the team for the match against Tunisia in Lille. No other player will be called up to replace him.”
READ MORE: Thierry Henry gives punchy response as he makes Tottenham debut – ‘I used to win a lot’READ MORE: Arsenal handed immediate Gabriel update after star injured on international duty with Brazil
Calafiori is a candidate to replace Gabriel and parter William Saliba in the centre of defence. That would likely see Piero Hincapie slot in at left-back, the position which Calafiori has had nailed down this season.
Fortunately for Arsenal, a raft of midfielders and forwards are close to returning. Both Viktor Gyokeres and Noni Madueke hope to play against Spurs while Martin Odegaard, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli are set to return in the coming weeks, as the hectic festive period approaches.
The Gunners are also preparing to welcome back Gabriel Jesus after 11 months out with an anterior cruciate ligament injury. When asked about Jesus’ progress last week, Arteta said: “I don’t know. Now it’s about making the steps day by day in a different surrounding.
How should Arsenal line up against Tottenham? Let us know your XI in the comments section.
“Obviously, he’s been doing everything on his own; now he’s got players around him, very competitive players around him, and see how he copes with that. But he’s full of energy, I love the reaction of all his team-mates when he first joined us and yeah, great to have him back.”
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