Riccardo Calafiori: Aurafiore

[sdotzdot]

He's going to be one of our best players next season.

Yeah there's no way I'm coming off the Cali train.

He really needs to polish his game but the talent and effort is there in abundance. Still very excited we signed him.

My only real concern with him is injuries. That is definitely the gamble being played here.

 

[Clrnc]

Wasn't at fault for the goal and basically any of the chances they got yesterday, but it's all chatter about his defensive issues here. He had a couple nice tackles and is adept in the air, but not a peep about those.

He’s clearly very talented offensively and solid at best defensively. That’s not a bad investment. We had Zinchenko and Kiwior at LB last season. With Zinny you had good offense but terrible defense, with Kiwior you had weak offense and solid defense there.

If he was simultaneously very good offensively and very good defensively, he'd be the best FB in the world right now. What sort of expectation is that?

You missed the amount of times Ganarcho beat him and sent in a dangerous cross? I sat behind the goal and lost count how many times Calafiori got beaten. When it was 1v1 I knew he will be cooked again

 

[OSBK]

I'm not jumping on this guy yet. He is young and a new league. Some games he has played well and others terrible. It's pretty much the standard for a lb for arsenal these days.

 

[Bloodbather]

You missed the amount of times Ganarcho beat him and sent in a dangerous cross? I sat behind the goal and lost count how many times Calafiori got beaten. When it was 1v1 I knew he will be cooked again

Happened once or twice, but he also got back in the play to disrupt after getting beat initially a few times. That is something he does pretty often actually. I can tell it's not a speed issue because he can usually recover and get back in the play after getting beat.

For me Cala's 1v1 issues on the wing are caused by a lack of nous rather than a lack of speed. He plays pace merchants too close instead of keeping solid, letting them come to him and pushing them off.

Either way, I think there's a hyperfocus going on with this particular issue. He's not a defensive liability by any means and his offensive upside is clear to see.

 

[Clrnc]

Happened once or twice, but he also got back in the play to disrupt after getting beat initially a few times. That is something he does pretty often actually. I can tell it's not a speed issue because he can usually recover and get back in the play after getting beat.

For me Cala's 1v1 issues on the wing are caused by a lack of nous rather than a lack of speed. He plays pace merchants too close instead of keeping solid, letting them come to him and pushing them off.

Either way, I think there's a hyperfocus going on with this particular issue. He's not a defensive liability by any means and his offensive upside is clear to see.

He has good speed but he lacks agility and acceleration. Close or far he is getting beaten the same tbh

 

[A_G]

@OnlyOne

 

[Rex Stone]

@OnlyOne

Assessing potential hostage valuations. This man must be stopped.

 

[balthazar]

Want to see him at CB

 

[OnlyOne]

@OnlyOne

What if Calafiori had a terrible up bringing and hated his family?

 

[A_G]

What if Calafiori had a terrible up bringing and hated his family?

Imagine if Arteta tried to recruit Dele Alli like that?

 

[UpTheGunnerz]

My manager caring about his players families? Not surprised at all

 

[Tnegs]

It’s the kind of thing David Brent would do only he actually makes it work somehow.

 

[Blood on the Tracks]

The more I look at him and his attributes the more I don't think he's a defender at all.

I worry that he could go the way of being a more athletic/ stronger Zinchenko the longer he starts at LB.

I've heard people want him at CB but have you seen how poor his positional play is at times and how rash he is diving into tackles? You're asking for trouble playing him there.

He has quite a lot of good qualities but I honestly don't know what position they suit.

He's a weird player. Like someone on Football Manager that has maxed out random attributes and really low other ones.

 

[sdotzdot]

Assessing potential hostage valuations. This man must be stopped.

I thought that was baby shark that popped up at the end and I was so confused


doo doo do doo..

 

[Rasmi]

The more I look at him and his attributes the more I don't think he's a defender at all.

I worry that he could go the way of being a more athletic/ stronger Zinchenko the longer he starts at LB.

I've heard people want him at CB but have you seen how poor his positional play is at times and how rash he is diving into tackles? You're asking for trouble playing him there.

He has quite a lot of good qualities but I honestly don't know what position they suit.

He's a weird player. Like someone on Football Manager that has maxed out random attributes and really low other ones.

He’s a CB. His positioning is not poor. He’s pushed as LB by a crazy manager. I say play him CB end of the season after Real knocks us out. In reality he will go back to Italy on the cheap

 

[HattoriHanzo]

He’s a CB. His positioning is not poor. He’s pushed as LB by a crazy manager. I say play him CB end of the season after Real knocks us out. In reality he will go back to Italy on the cheap

Why would he go to Italy on the cheap?
Kiwior, Tierney and Zinchenko will go in the summer, Calafiori will definitely stay.
Gabriel can't be the only proper left footed CB in the club.

 

[Rasmi]

Why would he go to Italy on the cheap?
Kiwior, Tierney and Zinchenko will go in the summer, Calafiori will definitely stay.
Gabriel can't be the only proper left footed CB in the club.

Not this summer. But next summer

 

[HattoriHanzo]

Not this summer. But next summer

We shall see.
Summer 2026 is too far, maybe Arteta will not be in Arsenal then.

 

[Rasmi]

We shall see.
Summer 2026 is too far, maybe Arteta will not be in Arsenal then.

Let’s hope

 

[Tir Na Nog]