Italian Media Raise Concerns Over Arsenal Star Riccardo Calafiori’s Italy Display

Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori has come under scrutiny in Italy after a mixed performance for the Azzurri during the ongoing 2026 World Cup qualifiers.

The 22-year-old has been used in a back three by coach Luciano Spalletti, with more freedom to push forward — a role that mirrors his attacking responsibilities at Arsenal. While his display against Estonia earned praise for its energy and impact, his follow-up match against Israel attracted criticism from several top Italian outlets.

Calciomercato rated him 5.5/10, pointing to an early error that gave Israel their first big chance. The outlet said Calafiori was “careless in covering his own area” and failed to close down attackers on several occasions.

Sky Italia gave him 6/10, describing his performance as “less brilliant than usual” and noting that he was caught out of position a few times during counterattacks.

Meanwhile, Eurosport offered a slightly better 6.5 rating, acknowledging his brief struggles in the first half but praising his overall contribution, including a near-goal effort late in the match.

Calafiori’s adventurous style remains a double-edged sword — capable of unsettling opponents but sometimes leaving gaps at the back.

At club level, the defender has been Mikel Arteta’s preferred left-back this season, putting his injury problems behind him. However, with three yellow cards already in the opening seven league games, he is two cautions away from suspension, which could give Myles Lewis-Skelly a chance to impress in his absence.