William Saliba is confident that new Arsenal signing Riccardo Calafiori will make an immediate impact at the Emirates this season.
Calafiori made his debut for the Gunners on Sunday during their 2-0 victory over Lyon in the Emirates Cup, marking the final friendly before the Premier League season kicks off.
Arsenal, set to begin their league campaign against Wolves on Saturday, displayed strong form as they comfortably defeated the Ligue 1 side. Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes both found the net from close range, securing the win.
Calafiori, who arrived from Bologna in a £42 million deal, entered the match in the 64th minute, initially playing at left-back after replacing Oleksandr Zinchenko. Later, he shifted to the centre-half position, partnering with Saliba following the introduction of youngster Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Saliba, impressed by the Italian defender’s performance, expressed his excitement about Calafiori’s potential. “Yeah, I’m so happy for him,” Saliba told Arsenal’s official website. “I think it’s only the beginning; he’s a really good player, young as well. We’re so happy to have him with us, and I hope he’ll have a really good season with us.”
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta also praised Calafiori’s debut performance, highlighting the defender’s versatility. “He brings a lot of versatility because he can play in two or three different positions, and especially in attack, occupy different spaces because he’s a real defender,” Arteta said.
