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Arsenal have been handed a significant injury setback after defender Riccardo Calafiori sustained a knee injury while on international duty with Italy.
The 22-year-old was forced off late in Italy’s 2-1 defeat to Germany after suffering a painful-looking slip. While attempting a quick change of direction, his left knee buckled underneath him, leaving him in visible discomfort.
According to reports from Corriere dello Sport, Calafiori has suffered a first to second-degree strain of the collateral ligament in his knee. This injury is expected to sideline him for approximately two to three weeks, ruling him out of Italy’s Nations League quarter-final second leg against Germany and several upcoming fixtures for Arsenal.
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The Italian national team has since confirmed that Calafiori will return to London for further treatment. His availability for Arsenal’s crucial Champions League quarter-final first leg against Real Madrid on April 8 remains uncertain.
🚨BREAKING: Riccardo Calafiori has suffered grade one/two damage to his collateral ligament and is expected to be out for two to three weeks.
[@DiMarzio via @karthikadhaigal] pic.twitter.com/pYlToWqh9O
— now.arsenal (@now_arsenaI) March 21, 2025
Calafiori has already endured two spells on the sidelines this season with knee injuries, raising concerns among Arsenal supporters. Having previously suffered a serious ligament rupture at Roma as a teenager, fans fear this latest setback could rule him out for an extended period.
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With Calafiori sidelined, Arsenal will turn to Hale End graduate Myles Lewis-Skelly to start at left-back against Real Madrid in the Champions League.
Speaking after Italy’s loss to Germany, manager Luciano Spalletti addressed Calafiori’s injury concerns, saying: “We don’t know about Calafiori, his knee feels strange. But he can’t answer the question of what he feels. I can’t quite figure it out at the moment. Unfortunately, his stud came off while he was trying to get back on the pass.”
Calafiori’s time at Arsenal has already been hampered by multiple fitness issues. The defender has suffered from knee, calf, and muscle problems, limiting him to just 14 Premier League appearances this season.
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