Riccardo Calafiori: The Italian Stallion

[Wright_I_am]

Do you see more midfield potential in Cala or MLS? Personally MLS has the ability to thread a little pass which is a pretty good tool that Rice, Merino both don’t really have.

Cala has more goals in him than MLS, while MLS is more for a 6 in midfield, more similar to Partey. And Rice I'd personally try as an inverted LB, so basically Rice/Cala position swap as it currently stands

 

[sdotzdot]

There is no doubt in my mind he can become an elite player so long as his injuries get under control.

The talent and mentality is there in abundance. Even if his injuries become a clear issue (touch wood they don't), he was absolutely worth the gamble. Don't think you pass up on an opportunity for a player like this.

 

[MutableEarth]

Solid game IMO. Really like Calafiore, think he's been given a bit of a raw deal on here. Only issue is the injuries IMO. Bit of a risk taker at times but I'm OK with that, we need guys like that in the team from time to time.

 

[Blood on the Tracks]

I think we saw both sides of him today.

Really progressive and potent going forwards, some lovely inverting too.

But he makes a lot of poor defensive decisions and his body positioning going into challenges a lot of the time is really weird, he will get himself hurt again at this rate.

He's a really fun player and there's a lot of talent and physical attributes to work with but he needs the edges rounding off.

 

[Mitch]

Such composure and confidence on ball.

Yes MLS has better defensive positional awareness but this guy is a quality player.

 

[grange]

RC9

 

[db10_therza]

He is so good in the final 3rd. Gun slinger.

 

[Oxeki]

Man should learn another vocation. MLS is here to stay.

 

[Clrnc]

Man should learn another vocation. MLS is here to stay.

Luckily his natural position is a CB

 

[Heavy Duty Rom]

Man should learn another vocation. MLS is here to stay.

Calafiori still better in the final third. You could see that when he came on, obviously gamestate played a part, but he was a lot more incisive and forward thinking with his passing and movement in the final third.

It’s great to have both.

 

[Hleb's Sirush]

It’s great to have both.

Exactly. I don't know why people can't seem to praise a player without having a dig at another player at the same time.

You can't have too many great players, let's hope they both turn out that way as that can only be good for Arsenal.

 

[Melquiades]

I think we saw both sides of him today.

Really progressive and potent going forwards, some lovely inverting too.

But he makes a lot of poor defensive decisions and his body positioning going into challenges a lot of the time is really weird, he will get himself hurt again at this rate.

He's a really fun player and there's a lot of talent and physical attributes to work with but he needs the edges rounding off.

I've said a few times that I think people forget how young Calafiore is for a defender and how little top-level experience he has still.

At the same age he is now, Gabriel was still in Brazil and Ben White was playing in the Championship.

 

[blaze_of_glory]

My guess is MLS becomes Rice's understudy at left 8 next season and Calafiori (if he can stay fit) becomes first choice LB. But we'll see.

Either way, both top players that we need.

 

[boonthegoon]

Exactly. I don't know why people can't seem to praise a player without having a dig at another player at the same time.

You can't have too many great players, let's hope they both turn out that way as that can only be good for Arsenal.

New player who was wanted by Arteta. Easy cheap shot for AM.

 

[Tnegs]

Didn’t Calafiore mostly play as a center back before joining us? MLS might end up playing in midfield at some point as well. These guys are not necessarily rivals at LB as they are good enough to play other positions.

 

[db10_therza]

Didn’t Calafiore mostly play as a center back before joining us? MLS might end up playing in midfield at some point as well. These guys are not necessarily rivals at LB as they are good enough to play other positions.

I started off thinking Calafiori might be competing with Gabi XL by the end of the season but the way Gabi keeps improving and the level he’s at right now that’s never gonna happen.

 

[ItaBic]

Calafiori is mainly a center back , if i'm not wrong yes he was born as LB in Rome u18 team, but in Bologna last year, in Italian national team and i think in Basel too 2 years ago was play as center back.
i think if he will remain healthy could be first alternative to Saliba & Gabriel as CB and first alternative to MLS in LB

 

[Bloodbather]

Going forward, I expect Calafiori to be a LB mainly with CB as his second position, and MLS to be LCM mainly with LB as his second position.

MLS too good of a dribbler to be used at LB mainly. He needs the freedom to push forward like he did for his goal. I think having the LB provide width instead of inverting is a better idea as well and Calafiori fits that.

 

[Ash10]

I started off thinking Calafiori might be competing with Gabi XL by the end of the season but the way Gabi keeps improving and the level he’s at right now that’s never gonna happen.

Yeah Gabriel started the season being dodgy in a few games but from then on has been one of the best CBs in the world. Nobody is benching him

 

[Riou]

It's not even about Ricky, Saliba or whoever being quality players which they are... Gabriel is the leader, certainly defensively.

Obviously he has a LONG time to go to be properly compared to him, but Gabby is the vocal presence of the team in the same way Adams was back in the day.

That's an almost impossible thing to replace.