Arsenal’s late win at Wolves could potentially prove so crucial to their hopes come the end of the 2024/25 Premier League season. Appearing to be another game where Mikel Arteta’s men would drop points after Myles Lewis-Skelly’s controversial red card on the stroke of half-time left them with ten men for a chunk of the contest, the visitors won it in the 74th minute courtesy of Riccardo Calafiori’s fine finish.
The Italian had been introduced at the break in place of Ethan Nwaneri as Arteta tinkered with his team following the red card. Taking on Lewis-Skelly’s left-back role, Calafiori was lurking just outside the Wolves box when Gabriel Martinelli picked up possession of the ball on the right flank with 16 minutes to go.
Edging into the area unmarked, the summer addition was in the right place to convert low into the far corner of the net with his left foot after Nelson Semedo could only head the ball directly into his path. It was some goal from the 22-year-old and certainly not the finish of a left-back.
His second goal in an Arsenal shirt, Calafiori is setting the bar very high indeed when it comes to the standard of his strikes. As was the case at Man City back in September, the Italian ace immediately ran over to Arteta, the coaching staff and the Arsenal substitutes to celebrate the moment.
All involved with Arsenal certainly appreciated his winning strike and the celebrations come the full-time whistle told the full story. In an interview with Optus Sport, Calafiori revealed that he was joking with his teammates after the game that he only scores goals of a certain standard.
