SoccerRecap
'Arsenal have flipped the pressure on to Man City in title race'
Arsenal's 3-0 win over Fulham puts pressure on Man City in the title race.
Sky Sports1 min read
SoccerFeature
Italy defender Calafiori back in Arsenal starting XI after injury absence
TL;DR
Italy defender Riccardo Calafiori is back in Arsenal's starting XI after recovering from an injury. He returns to the lineup for the match against Fulham.
Key points
- Riccardo Calafiori returns to Arsenal starting XI
- He missed previous matches due to injury
- Calafiori plays as a defender
- Arsenal faces Fulham in this match
- Mikel Arteta is managing squad limitations
Mentioned in this story
Riccardo CalafioriItaly
ArsenalFulham
Italy defender Calafiori back in Arsenal starting XI after injury absence
Riccardo Calafiori has returned to the starting XI for Arsenal against Fulham, marking his comeback after a recent injury absence as Mikel Arteta rotates his side.
Read Football Italia Ad-Free and get access to Exclusive News & Content – Free Trial – Click Here
The Italy international had been expected to feature against Newcastle but was ultimately left out of the matchday squad, despite nearing full fitness. Arteta was forced into selection decisions due to squad limitations, with Calafiori among those to miss out.
“Because these guys have been exceptional, I understand that,” Arteta explained. “We had to leave two players out of the squad at the end… there were Christian and Richi [Calafiori], so that’s going to happen.”
He added: “If the Premier League allows us to have 20 or 22 players, we can have everybody involved and hopefully next season that will be the case.”
UDINE, ITALY – OCTOBER 14: Riccardo Calafiori of Italy looks on during the FIFA World Cup 2026 qualifier match between Italy and Israel at Stadio Friuli on October 14, 2025 in Udine, Italy. (Photo by Marco Luzzani/Getty Images)
Q&A
Why was Riccardo Calafiori absent from previous Arsenal matches?
Riccardo Calafiori was absent due to a recent injury that limited his participation in earlier matches.
Who is Riccardo Calafiori and what position does he play?
Riccardo Calafiori is an Italy international footballer who plays as a defender for Arsenal.
What impact does Calafiori's return have on Arsenal's squad?
Calafiori's return strengthens Arsenal's defense and provides Mikel Arteta with more options for squad rotation.
