Mikel Arteta explains why Riccardo Calafiori was absent against Southampton

Gidibam Web6 hours ago

0 0 2 minutes read

Image credit: Getty Images

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has urged Riccardo Calafiori to focus on having a “clear pre-season” as the Italian defender looks to bounce back from an injury-plagued debut season at the club.

Calafiori missed Arsenal’s final Premier League game of the season — a 2-1 win over Southampton — after struggling with fitness issues. Arteta later confirmed that the club opted not to risk the 22-year-old, who joined from Bologna last summer in a £40 million deal.

Despite showing promise, Calafiori’s first year at the Emirates was hampered by five separate injury setbacks, keeping him sidelined for more than 100 days.

READ MORE: Arsenal star wins another Premier League award

Speaking after the season finale, Arteta explained the club’s cautious approach: “We pushed Ricci a lot to make sure he was fit for the last few games, and he was two or three weeks ahead of schedule in his recovery,” said the Spaniard. “He’s been constantly dragged into areas where he was really stretched and wasn’t comfortable in the last week or two.”

“Both Ricci and Jurrien [Timber] wanted to continue, but we decided to give Ricci a rest. He needs to now focus on having a proper preparation — a clear pre-season — to give himself the best chance of having a successful campaign next year.”

**Riccardo Calafiori (Image credit: Getty Images)**

Meanwhile, the final match of the season served as a fitting farewell for Kieran Tierney, who scored the opener against Southampton in what is expected to be his last appearance for the club.

CLICK HERE TO JOIN THE NOW ARSENAL WHATSAPP GROUP CHAT NOW!

The Scotland international, who is set to return to boyhood club Celtic this summer, impressed while playing in an unusual centre-back role alongside Jakub Kiwior. His performance — marked by a composed finish and solid defending — was a reminder of the tenacity and spirit he brought to Arsenal since joining in 2019.

Arteta praised Tierney after the match, highlighting his contribution to the team’s journey over the years.

The Gunners concluded the season in second place in the Premier League, with summer preparations now underway as Arteta looks to fine-tune his squad for a serious title push next term.