Riccardo Calafiori is returning to Italy a completely different player than when he left, and the Premier League is still scratching its head trying to figure him out. His move from Bologna to Arsenal back in summer 2024 was seen as a “disaster” for Serie A by director Walter Sabatini. Fast forward a little over two years, and you can totally see why Sabatini was so freaked out. Serie A’s loss has absolutely been the Premier League’s gain.
The “Best Left-Back” Who Plays Like a Number 10
Jamie Carragher called Calafiori “the best left-back in the league by far,” but even that might not capture the full story. The guy has blown past the idea of a traditional inverted left-back. This isn’t just a full-back stepping into midfield so another player can bomb on. Nah, Calafiori is straight-up bypassing midfield, roaming free like a number 10. What? A left-back playing like a central attacking midfielder? Yes, you read that right. He racked up two assists in his first two games, which tells you everything you need to know about how few teams have answers for him. Especially when Christos Tzolis holds width and Calafiori just attacks that half-space. Chelsea’s defense found out the hard way that this guy is a problem they don’t have a solution for yet.
Defenses Are Breaking Just Trying To Contain Him
You want to talk about game plans getting blown up? Look no further than what happened when Xabi Alonso’s side, “the Blues,” faced Arsenal. They went with a back four without possession instead of the expected five, all because Pedro Neto was assigned a man-marking role on Calafiori. Think about that for a second. An entire defensive setup shifted to handle a *left-back*. It looked like a total nightmare for Neto. Calafiori would bob in and out of his eyeline, moving into midfield, and Neto would follow him. But then Calafiori would start roaming even further and wider, popping up in the middle third of the pitch and even on the right flank! What’s a defender supposed to do then? Follow him across the whole field and watch your entire defensive structure crumble? There were multiple times Neto was caught signaling to Cole Palmer, clearly at a loss. It was a task for a much more seasoned defender, and it was getting worse.
Now, Calafiori and Arsenal are heading to Stadio Diego Armando Maradona in Naples, Italy to face Napoli in Champions League action. The match kicks off Wednesday, September 9, at 3 p.m. ET. Napoli is at +360, a draw is +250, and Arsenal is at -133. Can Napoli find a way to stop this guy, or will he continue to make defenders look absolutely lost? We’re all gonna find out what happens when the kid who redefined a position goes home.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by CBS Sports.
Leave a Reply