Overview

• Riccardo Calafiori played the full 90 minutes on the left of a back three in Italy’s 3-1 win over Estonia, recording 108 touches, 80 of 87 passes completed at 92% and winning seven of eight aerial duels.
• He added two chances created, four shots, five clearances, five recoveries and three interceptions in a performance described as a “dominant force” by Football Italia and a “pendulum” by Sky Italia.
• Calafiori says he enjoys greater freedom with Italy than in Mikel Arteta’s more structured system at Arsenal, highlighting a role shift that encourages his forward surges.
• At club level he has cemented the first-choice left-back spot, narrowing Myles Lewis‑Skelly’s minutes as Piero Hincapié’s expected post-break availability presents further competition.
• Having overcome last season’s injuries, Calafiori is fit and in standout form for both Arsenal and the Azzurri, with recent displays reinforcing perceptions that he is undroppable.