Riccardo Calafiori has already endeared himself to the Arsenal fans with a string of eye-catching displays after securing a transfer from Serie A side Bologna in the summer transfer window......See Full Story>>.....See Full Story>>
The Italy international impressed at Euro 2024 for Luciano Spalletti’s side and secured a transfer for a fee believed to be in the region of £42m.
With William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes occupying the centre-back roles, Calafiori has primarily featured as a left-back for Arsenal this season.
And while the position is by no means unfamiliar to the 22-year-old, former Manchester United defender Phil Jones feels Arsenal aren’t getting the best out of his qualities at left-back.
Calafiori played as a central defender in a back four for Italy at Euro 2024 as he partnered Inter Milan’s Alessandro Bastoni at the heart of the backline.
Last season, for Bologna, the 22-year-old was deployed as a central defender by Thiago Motta, which is an indication that it’s his favourite position.
Jones seemed to echo that sentiment as he claimed Calafiori is better suited to playing more centrally as opposed to left-back.
“I think Calafiori played at left-back the other day, didn’t he?” said Jones on Rio Ferdinand’s YouTube channel.
“To be fair, he actually looked the other day, even though I love him, he looked a centre-back playing left-back.”
Jones is right in saying that Calafiori’s best position is as a central defender, but the 22-year-old has the ball-carrying ability and the athleticism to play left-back if needed.
Saliba and Gabriel have formed arguably the best central defensive pairing in world football currently, so it doesn’t make sense for Arsenal to breach that partnership to accommodate Calafiori.
Additionally, Arsenal don’t have a convincing option at left-back currently as Kieran Tierney is currently injured and Olensakdr Zinchenko is too inconsistent and attack-minded to flourish in that role, so it looks like Calafiori will keep his place in the team, at least for the time being.