Mikel Arteta Provides Update on Riccardo Calafiori’s Recovery
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta has confirmed that Riccardo Calafiori is “progressing well” in his recovery from a knee injury but admitted there’s still no clear timeline for the defender’s return to action.
Calafiori picked up the injury during the March international break—a freak incident that, despite his history of knee problems, could have resulted in a far more serious outcome. Arteta had initially stated that the Italian would be out for "weeks" rather than months, and his latest comments suggest the player is still on the right track.
The 21-year-old full-back, who joined Arsenal from Bologna last summer, has endured a stop-start debut season due to recurring knee issues. He previously missed a month over the winter with a similar problem but has shown promise whenever fit.
In Calafiori’s absence, Arsenal have been able to rely on teenage star Myles Lewis-Skelly, who continues to impress. The 18-year-old put in another standout performance during the Gunners’ dominant 3-0 win over Real Madrid on Tuesday night.
While Lewis-Skelly stole the show on the pitch, Calafiori was still in the spotlight post-match, spotted catching up with pop star Dua Lipa in a photo shared by the club. The Italian was also seen alongside Kai Havertz in the tunnel during the match, visibly engaged as Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga was shown a red card—clearly wishing he could’ve been part of a memorable night at the Emirates.
Looking ahead, Arteta confirmed that Calafiori is edging closer to a return, though a specific date remains uncertain.
“Richy’s progressing really well,” Arteta said ahead of Saturday’s clash with Brentford. “It’s difficult to give a timeline because he needs to take the next step—being back in training with more players around him and seeing how he reacts. But he’s in a good place.”
While it’s unlikely Calafiori will feature in the second leg in Madrid next week, he’s expected to be back before the end of the season. Should Arsenal advance, he could be available for a potential Champions League semi-final against either Paris Saint-Germain or Aston Villa.