Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori produced a brilliant performance for his country as Italy won 4-1 against Israel in the UEFA Nations League game on Monday night.
The 22-year-old versatile defender joined the Gunners in the summer transfer window from Bologna and has made a strong start under Mikel Arteta.
The Gunners defender has made three starts in the Premier League and two more appearances from the bench. He scored one goal in the 2-2 draw against Manchester City last month.
His impressive form for Arsenal has made him a guaranteed starter for the Italy national team. He did well in the previous game, a 2-2 draw against Belgium, and took his game to a new height against Israel.
How the Italian media reacted to his performance against Israel
Calafiori started at the back in the three-man defence and produced a solid performance.
Gazzetta dello Sport was impressed by his “offensive streak,” and they mentioned that he initiated the pass for Federico Dimarco to grab an assist for the third goal. They have given the Gunners defender a 7.5/10 rating.
Another Italian newspaper, Corriere dello Sport, hailed him as “phenomenal”, adding he looked more like an attacking midfielder than a full-back.
They were also equally impressed by his performance and gave him a 7.5/10 rating.
Big games coming up for Arsenal
Calafiori is already proving to be a smart signing for the Gunners, and Arteta will hope that the Italian will continue to perform at a high level.
The Gunners are expected to mount a serious challenge for the Premier League title yet again, and they have some tough fixtures coming up after the international break.
Arsenal will face Liverpool, Newcastle, and Chelsea, and there will be a tough away fixture against Inter Milan in the Champions League.
Calafiori will be looking to start those crucial games and make a serious impact.
