Good and bad news on Riccardo Calafiori’s knee injury | OneFootball

Arsenal fans can breathe a sigh of relief after Corriere dello Sport reported that Riccardo Calafiori’s knee injury, sustained during the clash against Shakhtar on Tuesday, is not as severe as initially feared.

The Italian full-back, who exited the pitch in the 72nd minute, is said to have suffered only a slight issue with the medial collateral ligament, a far cry from more serious concerns given the way he fell.

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 22: Riccardo Calafiori of Arsenal goes down with a injury as Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal checks on him during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD3 match between Arsenal FC and FC Shakhtar Donetsk at Emirates Stadium on October 22, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)

The Italian national team defender fell awkwardly with the weight of his body resting on his right knee, leading to immediate fears of a meniscus or medial lateral collateral issue.

Yesterday, Corriere dello Sport sparked significant concern with a report titled ‘Anxiety Calafiori: it is feared a stop of two to three months’. The initial fears suggested that Calafiori might miss up to three months of action, including the crucial Nations League fixtures against Belgium and France, which was their main concern.

Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta also voiced his concern post-match, fearing “bad news” and highlighting the uncertainty surrounding the severity of the injury.

LONDON, ENGLAND – OCTOBER 22: Riccardo Calafiori of Arsenal battles for possession with Oleksandr Zubkov of FC Shakhtar Donetsk during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD3 match between Arsenal FC and FC Shakhtar Donetsk at Emirates Stadium on October 22, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)

Fortunately, after undergoing tests yesterday, it has apparently been determined that Calafiori’s injury is far less serious than first suspected.

The Italian outlet, in its headline titled ‘Calafiori, sigh of relief: the injury is not serious’, confirmed that the player’s condition would keep him off the pitch for a matter of weeks, but nothing was significantly damaged that would lead to a prolonged absence.

They then state that Mikel Arteta is expected to provide further details in the coming hours, with the current outlook appearing positive for Arsenal.

Calafiori, who has had more than his share of misfortune with knee injuries in the past, now faces a relatively quick recovery, although his absence, even for a couple of weeks, is a blow for Arsenal.

That being said, both Arsenal and Italy head coach Luciano Spalletti will be relieved by the news if it turns out to be true and Arsenal can focus on managing the player’s rehabilitation effectively.