Can Calafiori play up front for Arsenal? Arteta: ‘It is an option’ – video | OneFootball

Arsenal coach Mikel Arteta did not deny the fact that Riccardo Calafiori has what it takes to play up front for the Gunners in the midst of an injury crisis when asked about the possibility of a tactical novelty by club legend Martin Keown: ‘It is an option’.

Arsenal have a lengthy injury list, particularly in attacking areas, as Kai Havertz was ruled out for the remainder of the 2024-25 season this week, adding to previous injuries to Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus, Takehiro Tomiyasu and Ben White.

As a result, Arsenal went with a front three of 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, Belgium international Leandro Trossard and the otherwise out-of-favour Raheem Sterling for the 2-0 win over Leicester City on Saturday afternoon.

Can Calafiori play up front for Arsenal?

epa11852594 Riccardo Calafiori of Arsenal celebrates after scoring during the English Premier League match between Wolverhampton Wanderers and Arsenal FC, in Wolverhampton, Britain, 25 January 2025. EPA-EFE/VINCE MIGNOTT

Discussing the injury situation before kick-off with TNT Sports, former Arsenal captain-turned pundit Keown asked about the possibility of seeing Calafiori play up front.

Calafiori is known for his versatility at the back, and has previously been tested in an advanced midfield role during a training session with the Italy national team ahead of EURO 2024.

How are you going to find solutions? You said don’t look too deep but being creative. I’ve been looking at Calafiori this week and wondering can he play centre-forward? If Pep (Guardiola) did it, everyone would say ‘oh he’s a genius’,” Keown said during TNT Sports’s coverage.

Arteta replied: “It’s been done in the past and obviously they have this capacity because they become a threat especially within the context of the game is with a lot of density in the box against a low block, so it is an option that we have, yeah.”