Skip to content
LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 13: Riccardo Calafiori of Arsenal during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Nottingham Forest at Emirates Stadium on September 13, 2025 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Italy international Riccardo Calafiori is not expected to start for Arsenal in the Champions League semifinal second leg against Atletico Madrid tonight, as Mikel Arteta ‘could be tempted by the added security of Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie.’
- Read Football Italia Ad-Free and get access to Exclusive News and Content – Free Trial – Click Here
Arteta to drop Calafiori for Arsenal vs. Atletico Madrid?
Calafiori’s Arsenal host Atletico Madrid in the second leg of the Champions League semifinals at the Emirates Stadium in London tonight.
The first leg played in Madrid last week ended in a 1-1 draw.
Calafiori returned to action after nearly a month last weekend, playing the full 90 minutes in a 3-0 win over Fulham.
The Italian defender is eligible for tonight’s fixture, and even though Standard.co.uk admits the ex-Roma and Bologna defender ‘looked sharp’ in his latest outing, Arteta ‘could be tempted by the added security of Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie.’
Calafiori has scored one goal and provided three assists in 32 appearances across all competitions with Arsenal this term.
He is in his second season at the Emirates Stadium, where his contract expires in June 2029.
ByLorenzo Bettoni
Lorenzo Bettoni is the Editor of Football Italia.