Mikel Arteta is assured new signing Riccardo Calafiori will enhance Arsenal this season to finish their 10-year look forward to a Premier League title.
Calafiori, who joined the Gunners from Bologna in a reported £42million transfer, made his Arsenal debut of their 2-0 win over Lyon on the Emirates on Sunday.
The 22-year-old impressed on his first outing for his new membership, changing Oleksandr Zinchenko simply after the hour mark for his first minutes since Euro 2024.
Arsenal have improved defensively throughout Arteta’s tenure, boasting the very best document for objectives conceded within the Premier League final season (29).
And whereas Calafiori affords one other stable choice on the again for Arteta to name upon, the Spaniard is assured he can even enhance his facet going ahead.
“He brings loads of versatility as a result of he can play in two or three completely different positions and particularly in assault, he can occupy completely different areas as a result of he’s an actual defender,” Arteta mentioned.
“Whenever you see his presence, his physicality, how he goes to the duels, he’s unbelievable. Clearly, he’s executed lots final yr and I feel he’s a participant that may enhance us.”
“We’re managing them, it’s loads of new issues for him. It’s a giant step up, however he’s so keen as you can see, for the 20 minutes that he performed, he’s so energetic, so passionate, a extremely clever participant. He’s going to offer us lots.”
Debut within the crimson and white
Fits you, Richy pic.twitter.com/qxucwXqJuo
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 11, 2024
Each Takehiro Tomiyasu and Jurrien Timber had been notable absentees from their Emirates Cup success, however Arteta is assured the pair are nearing a return to motion.
“It’s positive,” Arteta mentioned on Timber. “He’s been performing some particular person work, that’s clear now.
“So we anticipate him to be prepared to coach with the group within the subsequent week, as a result of he has no response. So fairly constructive.
“I feel it would take weeks on that one sadly,” Arteta added on Tomiyasu’s health. “He’s going to must be affected person and work by it as a result of I feel it’s going to take a number of weeks.”
The Gunners kickstart their quest for the Premier League title subsequent Saturday once they welcome Wolves, a facet they haven’t misplaced to on the Emirates since 2020, to North London.
