Arsenal star Riccardo Calafiori’s injury is not serious and it’s just a knock

The injury that Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori picked up while on international duty with Italy in the Nations League game against France on Friday is not a serious one and is just a knock, according to Italian journalist Fabrizio Romano.

While it is nothing to worry about, the Gunners did not want him to take any risk and he will be assessed at the Sobha Realty Training Centre during the next week after getting recalled.

Arsenal face Tottenham Hotspur on September 15 after the international break and are keen to have the Euro 2024 star available.

Ousmane Dembele accidentally kicked the back of the left knee of Calafiori following a tackle from another player, leaving the Gunners star in severe pain.

The former Bologna star managed to play for a couple of minutes more after the incident but was eventually substituted in the 71st minute, and Arsenal fans were left with their hearts in their mouths after seeing him limping on the touchline afterwards.

While Calafiori was expected to be fit for the Nations League game against Israel on Monday, the North London club and Italy have decided to end his international duty earlier for the month, and their medical team will now carry out the needed assessments in the coming days.

Arsenal are already without the suspended Declan Rice and the injured Mikel Merino for the huge Spurs clash, and being without Calafiori could be a massive blow.

The 22-year-old is yet to start a game for the Gunners since joining in the summer, coming off the bench against Aston Villa to make his debut before featuring for 31 minutes against Brighton & Hove Albion.