Riccardo Calafiori supports Bukayo Saka to breathe new life into the season of Arsenal – but first they have to provide business against Chelsea.
The Italian defender, who helped the Gunners to hit PSV for nine goals in two legs in the Champions League Last 16 After setting the record-breaking 7-1 routine in Eindhoven, enjoys the return of the Superstar wing player of Mikel Arteta.
Although there is restraint to hurrying the Saka comeback after the hamstring operation in December, he is expected to be back on the Training Pitch after the international break and there is careful optimism that he could be suitable for the heavyweight quarterfinal collision against Real Madrid next month.
Calafiori, who was viewed by Los Blancos last summer, but eventually considered too expensive, said: “Everyone will be happy when he comes back, he is a top player and he will make the difference for sure.
“You can see when he is stated on the field that he makes a big difference, he is an important player for us, he is also a top man, so I wish he can play for us.
“He is going to do everything he can to come back for this big game, but I am not even thinking of Real Madrid, I am thinking of Chelsea and then the national team, then we will see.”
The 22-year-old sees no reason why Arsenal cannot go the distance in Europe and explains: “Now we know the result, we are so happy to play this quarter finals and we want to continue.
“We just focus on game on game, but of course we are quite confident. When you arrive here, it means you can win – so why not?”
Although Arsenal has spent the core of the Premier League campaign hunting the early season of Tempo-Setters Liverpool, they are now looking over their shoulder, because the defeat against Chelsea would see the gap between the two parties shrink to just three points.
The signs certainly look beneficial; Cole Palmer is without a goal or helps in his last seven top matches, while Arsenal has only lost once in their last 11 meetings with the blues in all competitions.
Calafiori continued: “I think it's a big game, but we just focus on ourselves, we don't want to think about what is behind us, we just concentrate on us. He is [Palmer] A good player, maybe it's not the best moment for him.
“But we played a good game against PSV, the worst thing we could have done, is underestimating the game, but we did that. This weekend will be difficult, it is an important one.”
Calafiori is no stranger to pressure and great expectations. In 2021 he was called one of the 50 most promising young people in Europe by UEFA.
Now he is planning to use his experience to help Myles Lewis-Skelly navigate a similar hype after his colleague-back-back had earned his first England call-up on Friday when he was mentioned in Thomas Tuchel's team to combat Albania and Latvia respectively.
Calafiori said about his teammate: “Myles is another top player for me, he is only 18, but you can see on the field that he looks like he is 30 years old.
“At the moment I am only 22, almost 23, but I realize how young I was when I was only 18 and already played in the Europa League for Roma.
“He just has to think he has a long career, he is a chief executive and I think he can really be very good.”
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