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RICCARDO CALAFIORI RETURNS TO ARSENAL AS ITALY CLARIFY PLAYER’S INJURY SITUATION

Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori has left the Italy camp and returned to London with a hip injury. The Gunners hope it's not serious as the key player is assessed by club staff ahead of the crucial North London derby.

Riccardo Calafiori returns to Arsenal as Italy clarify player’s injury situation
Calafiori back at Arsenal - Photo Credit: Getty Images

Riccardo Calafiori's early return to north London from international duty has delivered Arsenal yet another injury setback.

According to Fabrizio Romano, the defender quit the Italian national team on Saturday in preparation for Sunday night's 2026 World Cup qualifying match against Norway.

"Riccardo Calafiori has left the Italy camp today and returns to London to be assessed by Arsenal experts," Romano posted on social media to announce the news.

Additionally, he mentioned that Gennaro Gattuso, the coach of Italy, had stated: "He tried to be available, but he can’t force anymore," in reference to Calafiori-related issues.

It is believed that Calafiori's return to the English capital has been communicated to Arsenal staff, who do not anticipate any significant issues. According to Italian media, the 23-year-old 'ignored' Arsenal's invitation to remain in London during the international break.

Having started in all 11 of the Gunners' Premier League games so far this season, the youthful player has played a significant role in Mikel Arteta's table-topping team.

It makes sense that Arsenal would want to minimise any more problems before a busy schedule of games, given that they have had to deal with several injuries to gain a four-point lead over second-place Manchester City.

Calafiori reportedly trained alone before missing the game against Moldova the next night, according to reports from Italy on Wednesday. He is said to have suffered a hip injury, but it is not believed to be very serious.

In an effort to avoid making matters worse, La Repubblica further asserted that Arsenal had wanted Calafiori to stay away from his country's international squad in order to recuperate from his hip ailment. But the report also claimed that Gattuso and Gianluigi Buffon, the delegation chairman, pushed players to put the national team first in order to compete for a spot at the World Cup in North America next summer.

When Arsenal returns to Premier League action on Sunday, November 23, against fierce rivals Tottenham, they expect to welcome back a number of first-team players.

Both Kai Havertz and Noni Madueke have made significant strides in their recovery from their knee injuries. Although it was reported that both could have played in Tuesday night's match between Arsenal U21S and Cardiff City, neither man attended the 3-1 Football League Trophy loss.

Martin Odegaard, the captain of Arsenal, is still "some distance away" from making his own comeback, according to Norway manager Stale Solbakken. Gabriel Jesus, who had ACL surgery in late January, is also expected to return before the new year.

In other news, Gabriel Martinelli and Viktor Gyokeres are both recuperating from groin and hamstring strains they suffered before the international break.

THE NEXT STAR: WHY ARSENAL BELIEVE ANTONIO NUSA IS THEIR ULTIMATE ATTACKING SPARK

Arsenal lead the race for Antonio Nusa! Read about the €60m valuation and why Liverpool and Man Utd are also tracking the winger.

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Arsenal Step Up Scouting For €60m Rated Leipzig Star Antonio Nusa

Arsenal have had their eye on Antonio Nusa for a while now, gearing up for a big summer as they look to beef up the squad. Nusa, the Norwegian forward lighting up the Bundesliga, has turned into one of the league’s most exciting attackers lately. Rumours are flying that he’s ready for a new challenge once the season wraps up.

Playing for RB Leipzig, Nusa keeps delivering quick, creative, and always a threat up front. He’s become a huge part of Leipzig’s attack, and clubs all over Europe are taking notice. Arsenal’s scouts haven’t missed a beat, tracking his progress and weighing up whether he’s the spark their attack needs.

Liverpool isn’t sitting this one out either. They already checked in on Nusa during the last transfer window, after missing out on Antoine Semenyo. So, Arsenal won’t be alone once the season ends; expect some serious competition from their Premier League rivals, which just makes the whole thing trickier.

Lately, Arsenal has stepped up its scouting. Fussball Daten says Nusa is now one of their main targets, and they’ve sent multiple scouts to keep tabs on him. This isn’t just a passing interest; they’re serious about landing a top attacking talent.

Leipzig, for their part, seems to know what’s coming. They’re bracing themselves for offers and are likely to set a firm asking price for Nusa. That should give Arsenal and Liverpool a better sense of what it’ll take to get a deal done.

Nusa won’t come cheap. He’s young, talented, and keeps getting better in Germany, so Leipzig will want a big fee. Still, both Arsenal and Liverpool have shown they’re willing to spend to get the right player. Money probably won’t be the thing that stops them.

If Nusa keeps playing the way he has been, Arsenal and Liverpool look ready to match Leipzig’s demands and go all-in for one of their top summer targets.

ARSENAL INJURY UPDATE: SALIBA FACES FITNESS TEST WHILE MIKEL MERINO UNDERGOES MAJOR SURGERY

Arsenal face an injury crisis! Read the latest on William Saliba’s illness, Kai Havertz’s muscle injury, and Mikel Merino’s surgery.

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Havertz, Saliba, And Merino Injury Updates Ahead Of Arsenal vs Wigan

Arsenal are heading into a packed stretch of games, and injuries are starting to pile up. Fans are on edge, waiting to hear what’s happening with William Saliba and Kai Havertz. There’s an FA Cup clash with Wigan coming up, plus some huge Premier League matches, so Mikel Arteta has his hands full trying to keep the squad sharp and the momentum going.

That 1-1 draw at Brentford helped settle things a bit, especially with Leandro Trossard, Bukayo Saka, and Martin Odegaard all back in the lineup. Their return lifted the mood, but there’s still a lot of uncertainty around a few players who could make or break Arsenal’s short-term hopes.

Let’s start with Saliba. He’s a rock in the back line, and his absence at Brentford was obvious, even though Cristhian Mosquera stepped up. Saliba trained earlier in the week, but illness kept him out of the game. Now, everyone’s hoping he’ll be fit for the FA Cup tie, especially with the north London derby against Spurs right after. Arteta knows that a steady defence is everything when the season gets tough, and Saliba’s calmness on the ball is now a big part of how Arsenal builds up play. If he’s back in time, it’s a big boost heading into a run of games that could shape the rest of their season.

Then there’s Havertz. He’d just started finding his rhythm again after dealing with a knee problem, only to pick up another setback – a muscle injury this time. He hasn’t played since the opening-day win over Manchester United, and now it looks like he’ll miss more games. Havertz brings a lot of flexibility up front, and he’s great at pulling defenders around. Losing him, especially when there’s a derby and a busy league schedule, means Arteta has to shuffle his attack. Right now, it looks like Havertz will sit out against Wigan, Wolves, and Spurs, with a possible return against Chelsea in early March. Getting him fit again is going to be key if Arsenal want to keep scoring goals.

Midfield depth has taken a hit, too, with Mikel Merino out after foot surgery. Arsenal confirmed he’s sidelined for a while, and Arteta opened up about just how tricky this injury is.

“There’s uncertainty because the recovery time isn’t well understood, as there’s no history of this type of injury. It’s a stress fracture, not the toes; it’s deeper than that. It’s not something that’s well documented, so there’s a lot of doubt about his recovery.”

Arteta added, “Doctors were really happy. But with bone healing, you need patience. We’re talking months three, four, maybe five. We just don’t know yet.”

Basically, Arsenal are bracing for a long wait with Merino.

There’s at least one bright spot: Max Dowman is almost ready to come back after his ankle injury. The 16-year-old has been out for two months, but he’s getting close. Arteta kept it simple before the Brentford match: “He’s doing really well, about a week away.” If Dowman makes it back in time for the Tottenham game, he could give the team a much-needed jolt during a tough stretch.

With Saliba’s fitness still up in the air and Havertz sidelined again, Arsenal’s depth is about to get a real test. The next few weeks will show just how well Arteta can keep things on track while juggling injuries and trying to stay in the hunt on all fronts.

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