{"id":1357784,"date":"2024-07-03T16:30:56","date_gmt":"2024-07-03T15:30:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/?p=1357784"},"modified":"2024-07-03T17:38:49","modified_gmt":"2024-07-03T16:38:49","slug":"riccardo-calafiori-arsenal-transfer","status":"publish","type":"news","link":"https:\/\/www.squawka.com\/en\/news\/riccardo-calafiori-arsenal-transfer\/","title":{"rendered":"Arsenal transfer targets: Could Riccardo Calafiori break up one of the Premier League’s best duos?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Arsenal are reportedly looking to make Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori their first major signing this summer.<\/strong><\/p>\n

It was another “what-if” season for the Gunners<\/em> as they again finished as runners-up to Manchester City.<\/p>\n

Unlike in the 2022\/23 campaign, Mikel Arteta’s men went into the final matchday with a chance at glory, but City held their ground and made no mistakes.<\/p>\n

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Having accumulated 89 points, their highest total since the Invincibles\u2019 championship-winning season, Pep Guardiola\u2019s side won England\u2019s top division by two points.<\/p>\n

It stands to reason Arteta will be looking to refresh his squad, with Jurri\u00ebn Timber, who missed the bulk of their last campaign, feeling like a new signing.<\/p>\n

However, it’s in the attacking areas where supporters are hopeful of reinforcements, though for the time being, it seems strengthening an already impregnable defence is top of the wishlist.<\/p>\n

Calafiori, who enjoyed a breakthrough season in Serie A last term, has been identified<\/a> and thus presents a curious proposition.<\/p>\n

The five-time capped Italian centre-back starred in a brief Euro 2024 stay, most notably assisting Mattia Zaccagni for their equalizer against Croatia, which sent Luciano Spalletti’s team into the Round of 16. They duly lost 2-0 to Switzerland, but the Rome native was suspended, which shielded him from the intense criticism of the local media.<\/p>\n

Almost ever-present in Thiago Motta’s side, Calafiori, who is left-footed, occupied the left side of Bologna’s central defence. Although he can play left-back, his prospective addition could make Gabriel Magalh\u00e3es somewhat nervous, as that is where he’s positioned in Arsenal’s formidable backline.<\/p>\n

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One might wonder about the pursuit, as his central defensive partnership with William Saliba was the cornerstone behind the Gunners\u2019 transformation from contenders to challengers. In that 2022\/23 campaign, they lost just three of the 27 games that Saliba and Gabriel started together, winning 21 (78%). That win percentage dropped to 33% when Rob Holding and Gabriel partnered.<\/p>\n

It was the same again last season. The pair started 34 Premier League games together. When they were on the pitch together, Arteta\u2019s side conceded just 0.73 expected goals per game while keeping more clean sheets (17) and conceding the fewest shots on target per 90 minutes (2.31).<\/p>\n

Nemanja Vidi\u0107, who knows about successful defensive partnerships, is a fan. “The two from Arsenal [William Saliba and Gabriel Magalh\u00e3es] are doing well,” he said in a Times interview.<\/p>\n

“Watching them, I feel they like defending and want the clean sheet. I like the mentality they show. And they are a partnership. That is important. Arsenal, this season, have not been conceding many goals.”<\/p>\n

Furthermore, Gabriel and Saliba won 25 of the games they started last season, which is a 73.5% win rate.<\/p>\n

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Riccardo Calafiori for Bologna during the 2023\/24 Serie A campaign:<\/p>\n

\u25c9 Most possession won (194)\u2060
\u25c9 Most aerial duels won (60)\u2060
\u25c9 Most interceptions (50)\u2060
\u25c9 Most assists (5)\u2060<\/p>\n

\u2935\ufe0f Season By Numbers pic.twitter.com\/JllWJKKlG1<\/a><\/p>\n

— Squawka (@Squawka) July 3, 2024<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n