Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Lithuania
Montenegro
Nigeria
North Macedonia
United Arab Emirates

France1 - 3Italy

sportsmole.co.uk, 6 September 2024, 20:57
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has been hit with yet another untimely blow ahead of next weekend's North London derby, as Riccardo Calafiori was taken off in Italy's UEFA Nations League clash with France.

The 22-year-old - a £42m summer signing from Bologna - started in a three-man defence for Luciano Spalletti's side alongside Alessandro Bastoni and Giovanni Di Lorenzo as Italy prevailed 3-1 against the 2018 World Cup winners.

Federico Dimarco, Davide Frattesi and Giacomo Raspadori cancelled out Bradley Barcola's 12th-second opener, but Calafiori had to be substituted three minutes before Raspadori put the icing on the cake in the second half.

The Arsenal man was tracking back as his defensive colleague Bastoni put in a challenge on France winger Ousmane Dembele, who went flying and unintentionally brought an unawares Calafiori down with him.

The Paris Saint-Germain winger caught the back of Calafiori's leg with his heel as he took his tumble, and the issue was serious enough to force the 22-year-old off as Alessandro Buongiorno replaced him.

Could Calafiori be a doubt for Tottenham?

Calafiori's issue did not appear to be anything more serious than a contact injury, but the fact that he was not able to run it off may be of slight concern to both Spalletti and Arteta.

The Azzurri boss may be asked for an update before Monday's showdown with Israel, but at first glance, it seems that the Italy international will not be out for an extended period of time.

Calafiori was able to walk off the field unaided as he was substituted, but he was evidently limping and is certainly a doubt for the Israel clash, and potentially the North London derby if he does indeed miss the second international game of the month.

Calafiori is yet to make his first start for Arsenal, but he has come off the bench in the Gunners' last two Premier League clashes with Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion, playing on the left and in the centre.

However, Arteta already has Jurrien Timber, Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jakub Kiwior able to provide cover out wide, while William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes are mainstays in the heart of defence.

What other North London derby concerns do Arsenal have?

Calafiori's fresh problem is certainly not the most devastating for Arsenal, who are blessed with several other options in defence, even with Takehiro Tomiyasu and Kieran Tierney both on the treatment table.

The engine room is where the Gunners' main concerns lie, though, as both Declan Rice and Mikel Merino will sit out the North London derby through suspension and a shoulder fracture respectively.

Merino would have been the perfect replacement for Rice, who was controversially sent off for a pair of bookable offences in the draw with Brighton, but the Spaniard will have to wait several more weeks to make his Arsenal debut.

Instead, Jorginho could be drafted into the midfield trident with Martin Odegaard and Thomas Partey, while Kai Havertz, Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly are alternative options in the central areas.

Odegaard himself picked up an ankle knock in the Brighton stalemate, but he recently offered a positive update on his fitness and played the full 90 in Friday's draw with Kazakhstan.

Show more

Top News

26 March 2025 talksport.com Footage has emerged showing Kylian Mbappe's reaction to France's clash with Croatia being delayed. 26 March 2025 talksport.com International football's biggest rivalry was reignited overnight, and it's fair to say that it didn't disappoint. 26 March 2025 talksport.com talkSPORT has you covered for all the latest football news as domestic football makes a return this weekend. 26 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany believes that Pep Guardiola's side should look to sign a new right-back and left-back in the summer transfer window. 26 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Pundit Don Goodman has tipped Ipswich Town to make a move for Peterborough United winger Kwame Poku should they be relegated to the Championship. 26 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk All transfer business is done and dusted for this season, but that doesn't stop clubs from preparing ahead for next season. 26 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Premier League stars Enzo Fernandez and Alexis Mac Allister got on the scoresheet as Argentina celebrated their World Cup qualification with a dominant 4-1 victory over rivals Brazil. 26 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool midfielder Wataru Endo has reportedly attracted interest from Eintracht Frankfurt over a potential summer move. 26 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea Women and Manchester City Women will complete their quadruple header when they face off in Thursday's Women's Champions League quarter-final second leg. 25 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Highly-sought-after Sporting Lisbon striker Viktor Gyokeres has reportedly ruled out a possible move to Nottingham Forest this summer. 25 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk On Thursday, Barcelona Women will face Wolfsburg Women in the second leg of the Women's Champions League quarter-final tie. 25 March 2025 talksport.com There may be a sky full of stars at Wembley in September, but there will be a pitch full of stars two hours north. 25 March 2025 talksport.com Real Madrid will be a force to be reckoned with next season. 25 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona defender Inigo Martinez will be fit for Thursday's rescheduled La Liga clash against Osasuna, although Pau Cubarsi faces a battle to prove his fitness in time for the home fixture. 25 March 2025 talksport.com talkSPORT host Andy Goldstein could barely conceal his shock following a rather bold claim from co-host Darren Bent. 25 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Southampton's Tyler Dibling could be at the centre of a transfer battle in the summer following reports that RB Leipzig have contacted the player's camp. 25 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Barcelona will return to La Liga action for Thursday's rearranged meeting with Osasuna at Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys. 25 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany has encouraged the Citizens to prioritise signing at least two "technically brilliant" midfielders in the summer transfer window. 25 March 2025 talksport.com Trent Alexander-Arnold is certainly not the first and won't be the last player to depart his boyhood club. 25 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Contrary to rumours earlier this week, Everton defender Jarrad Branthwaite has not stated he is unsettled at the club, according to a new report. 25 March 2025 talksport.com Chelsea are set to come up against a former player at this summer's World Cup who has a staggering trophy record as a coach. 25 March 2025 talksport.com Alisha Lehmann claims that online abuse remains an issue despite her ever-growing popularity. 25 March 2025 talksport.com Ally McCoist has omitted two of the Premier League's most celebrated stars from his all-time top three attackers from the division. 25 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Mohamed Salah undisputedly has a greater Premier League legacy than Cristiano Ronaldo, Reds expert David Lynch has argued. 25 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly contacted Olympiacos over potentially signing their teenage sensation Charalampos Kostoulas. 25 March 2025 talksport.com Liverpool star Mohamed Salah is not in active talks over a move to Saudi Arabia, talkSPORT understands. 25 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal are reportedly prepared to enter talks with Gabriel Magalhaes over a new contract at the Emirates. 25 March 2025 talksport.com Kevin De Bruyne and Vinicius Jr are among SIX marquee signings being plotted by the Saudi Pro League this summer, talkSPORT understands. 25 March 2025 talksport.com Stan Collymore has issued a passionate defence of Trent Alexander-Arnold amid fan backlash over his move to Real Madrid. 25 March 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United forward Jadon Sancho is reportedly dreaming of a move to Borussia Dortmund over the summer.