Riccardo Calafiori injury: Arsenal dealt new worry as Mikel Arteta confirms 'slight issue'
Riccardo Calafiori had a “slight issue” at the end of Arsenal’s win over Everton that forced Noni Madueke to fill in at left-back.
Calafiori had started every league match this season but he was named on the bench in north London, as Myles Lewis-Skelly came into the side at left-back.
The Italian was introduced off the bench in the second half as Arsenal eased to victory, though it was not a stress-free cameo.
Eight minutes of stoppage-time were played and Calafiori spent the majority of those standing up front.
Calafiori went straight down the tunnel at full-time and Arteta confirmed the defender picked up a minor problem.
“Yeah I wasn’t that mad to change those two from their positions,” Arteta said.
“It was because he had a slight issue, we don't know what it is, it seems to be something very small, but he was cautious about it.”
Before that concern with Calafiori, Madueke had an impressive game further up the pitch.
He started on the right wing as Arteta looks to fill the void left by Bukayo Saka’s quad injury and looked dangerous in the final third.
Madueke then switched over to the opposite flank when Max Dowman was brought on late in the second half.
As ever, producing the right final ball or shot on a regular basis is the challenge for Madueke. However, Arteta is in no doubt about just how much potential there is.
“Very impressed and to have that variability with him is really necessary,” Arteta said.
“Especially because we lost Bukayo and Christos [Tzolis] and that’s the two players that give us so much threat in the final third.
“But I like him and if he continues to transform his mentality, his will, his capacity to be more consistent in actions, he's an unbelievable player.”