How Riccardo Calafiori Will Fit In To Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal

[@StatmanDave]

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[@Tiger_the_Gunner]

Arsenal defense vs Real Madrid attack 🔥

[@blazejon]

Gabrielle is one of the best CBs in world football right now. The consistent disrespect is astonishing. He will deal with this competition...

[@prasvasu4217]

Underrated comment... I'm sad he went for a CB however good this guy might be... They need a RW, they need a LW, they need a ST and they CB!

[@commentarytalk1446]

@@prasvasu4217 Completely agree. Bizarre signing imho given Arsenal desperately need a Striker above all else. When they flogged 60m on Havertz imho that was money that needed a direct striker as good a forward utility Havertz is, he's not going to get those crucial goals and total number and soak up defenses' pressure giving Arsenal more attacking chances...

[@aob326]

We moved Tavares on and brought Calafiori in. Serious upgrade 🔥

[@MyMainMan90]

Calafiori and Jorginho also have a partnership that started in the Italian national team which should help with positional intelligence when both are in the side. The only million pound question left is whether this is enough to reduce the right side bias Arsenal have and improve the level of effectiveness from Martinelli (or Trossard) in games. A signing worth the watch

[@FatTodd]

Bias will be gone when the midfielder is signed. Whether it's merino or ruiz or both...

[@kojoosei7850]

@@FatToddor Nwaneri

[@kelvinireland1]

It wasn;t actually Motta that started playing Calafiori at center back, it was his then interim manager at Basel, Heiko Vogel.

[@2kdavv]

Brother has been waiting to hit post video for like 2 weeks lool good video tho im excited to see this brother play

[@StatmanDave]

😂

[@antonioreciomatamoros1773]

Is that you hulk hogan brother

[@2kdavv]

@@antonioreciomatamoros1773 amen brother -HH

[@paulpam7678]

Dave i think you should go back to the man city game first leg and see how tomiyasu played played LB but instead of rice been high up Tomi was and rice covered as DM/LB and I think that’s how he is going to play

[@edreezyforreezy]

Arsenal's defensive possibilities just quadrupled. It's up to the runs they make now. All fullbacks can play centerback and midfield, All centerbacks are good in the air as well. My word. Shivers.

[@ZetstarMemco]

Great video! Keep up the good work, David.

[@avataryun]

Hey Dave, great upload! In my opinion, Gabriel is one of the most undroppable players on the team and is a danger man from corners, would be very dangerous to replace him with Calafiori in certain games

[@yungdkay1008]

No one is replacing Gabriel Although at some point Gabriel might need some rest and that's why we have Jakub kiwior

[@benjamincorbett]

Yeah you’re right. No chance he will though in the league. Cala will only play left back, that’s what he’s been brought in for and where he spent nearly all of his on pitch time for last season. Check his heat map, ignore what the man in the video who has never watched him play says.

[@StatmanDave]

Without question the backline at the start of the season will be: Calafiori - Gabriel - Saliba - White. Nobody is breaking up Gabriel & Saliba from day one but Calafiori will offer a different profile to Gabriel for specific situations and would be a very good backup if Gabriel was unavailable.

[@engineer14]

I would like to see Zinchenko as a 8.

[@upper_cut5159]

Zinchenko as an 8 with Calafiori behind will be a devasting left hand side.

[@StatmanDave]

I would also like to see that, it would be a shame to see his technical ability go to waste

[@cheviidevii]

Arsenal backline going get a new nickname: *You shall not pass* in reference to Gandalf - Lord of the Rings.

[@danparsons1423]

Thanks for explaining

[@eugeinho]

Reckon you could lose the second half, would be more catchy

[@amromohsen9038]

Exactly what I thought 😂 you shall not pass

[@DanielCostadeSouza]

The Líbero pronunciation is Leaber-o. Stressed syllable is the first one, LI (Lee). LEE!..bero. It´s normal to think that latin languages tend to highlight the last syllables, but this is not the case.

[@trailechoes]

calafiori and timber (like a new signing this season) will take our defence to the next level, pushing the others ( saliba, gabriel and ben white ) further, very exciting

[@ansaz14]

No love for Vinny, Tomi and Kiwior? 😢

[@123kaired]

​@ansaz14 All of them 3 are a level below, although still very good

[@trailechoes]

@@ansaz14 i love vinny but i think he has hit his potential clearly, hopefully he can recover fully this season, he always provides something extra and is very dominant in the midfield, tomi works very hard for the team and he has been at the other end a handful times past season, i think he is also the one who can push ben white further, kiwior could potentially be sold or loaned out but i have loved his workrate and versatility in the field ❤️

[@KwameAboagye-o3j]

Timber will find it hard to get back into the first team, now that we have signed Calafiori.

[@trailechoes]

@@KwameAboagye-o3j yeah i think we will see calafiori and timber rotating in the left back calafiori can even be preferred to be in the left center back when out of possession but joining the midfield with the ball

[@fiyahray8029]

Big Gabby is a top class defender! Nd not to mention his goal contributions.

[@donchapo_333]

Yes we are VERY happy This is the way.

[@briansheridan9160]

Leaving the full time devils was the best thing Dave ever did..lightyears ahead of those Clowns

[@wengersagent554]

Great vid as always! This notion that Arteta is mimicking Pep with 4 CBs is misguided tho, Arteta played 4 CBs to great effect 2 seasons ago against Liverpool and Pep adopted it after a fallout with Cancelo

[@lenneth1188]

he'll play sweeper keeper

[@Tiger_the_Gunner]

Arsenal defense 🆚 Real Madrid attack 🔥

[@mohamad6090]

hes replacing gabriel against most opponents that don't have deadly attackers. Timber LB. against city = Gabi against Bayern = Calafiori

[@braxtonmay391]

Yep. Great review

[@TheKozza97]

whichever way this goes, were going to see someone we didnt want to see sit on the bench, sit on the bench

[@benjamincorbett]

Who?

[@TheKozza97]

@@benjamincorbett well, in this I am making the assumption that 1. Saliba is the only one in the back 4 that is a guaranteed starter. 2. Calafiori will play either as a LCB or LB and not midfield that some speculate 3. Zinchenko and or Kiwi are quite likely to leave this summer. So the factor we also aren’t sure of is timber but the majority of the time he’s played either for us or in the under 21s he’s played as a LB so it either benches timber who I think we’re all eager to see after he looked so promising before his injury last season OR timber goes to RB Calafiori plays LB and Ben white ends up on the bench which id also not like the see. Then there’s the possibility he plays LCB which puts Gabriel on the bench which for me would be very harsh on Gabi after being, for me, one of the most underrated CBs last season. Maybe I’m wrong these are ofcourse assumptions at this stage but I don’t think Cala comes in to not play first team. A dilemma that’s a good one to have but like I say I believe that wherever he plays, we’re going to see someone we all like, sit on the bench. Sorry to get long winded…..

[@benjamincorbett]

@@TheKozza97 yeah sounds right

[@olodiandrew219]

Lol, ben white, gabby and saliba are all starters. Cali is will be experimented on to see where he fits. The goal the season is squad rotation. So basically you can say they are all starters. ​@@TheKozza97

[@sebando]

I have a feeling short term left back, long term lcb. Gabriel’s passing not quite up to artetas standards I reckon. As timber gets to a good level I think he goes straight in at left back.

[@Maj1794]

Excited to see how he fits into our system.. COYG!!

[@yungdkay1008]

Statman dave was wrong about suggesting saliba should play as a libero such as john stones play for city (a libero is a CB that joins the midfield during moments of possession to retain possession), saliba cant do that.

[@StatmanDave]

At Bologna, both centre backs would move into midfield at times but Calafiori did it more frequently. All I was suggesting is Saliba has the technical ability to add that occasional movement to his game to make Arsenal more unpredictable so it's not Calafiori every time.

[@KwameAboagye-o3j]

Calafiori will play as an LB. He will also play as a CB. He will be an all-time Arsenal legend. Arsenal 24-25 squad Raya, White, Sablia. Gabriel, Calafiori, Saka, Odegaard, Rice, Merino, Havertz, and Gyokeres.

[@legendaltair2733]

It's better not to disturb the partner ship of saliba and gabriel. They compliment each other better. One is wild hard hitting tackler and the other one is composed better game reader and a sweeper.. Cala can platy on lb and move zini to left sided box to box player

[@prasvasu4217]

Zinny ain't box to box either... He can play as a mid maybe to get Rice higher up the pitch.

[@joekneebone4251]

7 center backs and we love it I think gabi will stay at cb and timber/ricy/white will either play 60/30 mins more or less

[@StatmanDave]

The new football meta 😂

[@brownmoney27]

Nice guess work

[@sebastianthurmond498]

Personally I’d play him at the 6. With White and Timber at RB and LB. Think Rice was much better at the 8 than the 6.

[@Neo-pk7zp]

Best signing ❤

[@oeckstei]

Left back to eventually replace Zinchenko but also to give Gabriel M a rest at CB. Trully wonder if perhaps he’ll get a game or two as a DM.

[@yungdkay1008]

Not as a DM Inverted full back - yes Overlapping full back - yes

[@brandonwolfe5]

Could we potentially see a back 5? Timber-Calafiori-Gabriel-Saliba-White Rice-Odegaard Martinelli-Havertz-Saka Basically making it so Timber, White, and Calafiori can play and one or two constantly play along side Rice when Arsenal have the possession?

[@yf9409]

Probably against Man City

[@hartzldn]

I love the idea of this. When we won the FA Cup and went on a mini win streak in Mikels first season we looked unbeatable with a back 5, although we had much less possession

[@edreezyforreezy]

Lots of potential with Calafiori's style of defensive play.

[@yungdkay1008]

This lineup will disrupt our style of play, we can use it to close out games though When we leading and want to protect and kill off games

[@benjamincorbett]

Without doubt. No. What is this😂

[@freshclips18]

Arsenal played 4 centerbacks way before city. ben white, saliba, gabi and tomiyasu

[@prasvasu4217]

With this guy available, they should offload either Zinny or Kiwior... We know Timber has a fitness issue, and he can start for Arsenal as LB... Gabriel and Saliba have been the best last season... No need to fix something that ain't broken...

[@ToxicAfricanKing]

We see y'all trying to force an agenda against Ateta already. Calfiori has come to play as a lfeftback! However, because of his versatility, he will fill in wherever depending on the dynamics of the game and our opponent.

[@Flexium_GG]

His stats are nothing to write home about in fm, what am I missing lads?

[@sinaRambo]

Lol you think like me. he was much better in older versions of fm. He suffered a horrible injury about 3 years ago now

[@Chillinstuff]

Gabriel is going nowhere. It’s a new left back and centre back cover left side. Timber provides that on the other side. Players can be rested, etc, push for all 4 comps. Need centre mid, & striker now and we are set

[@brownmoney27]

Some of these potential lineups/structures are not going to happen

[@mozi3051]

The era of the absolute low block is ending.

[@Benspooky]

We flood them with bodys to open spaces the hole team does it 😂

[@inspirehub-rich]

The Disrespect on Gabi needs to stop. He is going to be a left back with timber on the bench or the DM with jorginho on the bench. Gabby always starts. Gabby is even better than saliba in my personal opinion.

[@kpeteru]

Cali-fiori? CALAFIORI m8

[@Assassyn12]

lol he’s gonna play left back more time only if we have too many games he’ll swap for gabbi

[@commentarytalk1446]

Until Arsenal sign a top striker I think they'll post similar numbers again and not boost up or win those top level matches.

[@makaisonn7030]

I still need me a striker damit!!!!!

[@PanaPangolin]

"one of my favorite players last season" proceeds to butcher his name everytime

[@benjamincorbett]

Guy’s never got anything right about this sport. Don’t think this will be an exception.

[@innercircle341]

Learn how to say libero correctly

[@reeseprince8]

Nord vpn FTW

[@robpait]

I still don't know where this kid fits with the current team. Completely disagree that he somehow moves Gabriel to the bench on a consistent basis, and I am exhausted with the disrespect toward Gabriel. This might be a Zinchenko/Tomiyasu upgrade except all three of them are injury prone. I have no idea what Mikel and Edu are doing with this, but I'm gonna let them cook.

[@Emmabub99]

Not true

[@mhgooner9546]

Arsenal struggle when Gabriel has possession lol what??? Yh this is where I click off.

[@123kaired]

For being correct?

[@mhgooner9546]

@@123kaired Correct? Just say you don't watch Arsenal.

[@123kaired]

@mhgooner9546 could say the exact same to you. Its clear hes worse in possession than others. Amazing at defending though

[@mhgooner9546]

@@123kaired Him being worse than Saliba on the ball doesn't mean he's shit on the ball and doesn't mean Arsenal struggle when he has the ball.

[@upper_cut5159]

I think Gabriel will warm the bench more this. Calafiori-Saliba is a no brainer. Timber left back.

[@DanoFSmith-yc9tg]

They'll still finish 2nd by 1 point or on goal difference or something, I swear this team is cursed.

[@jzilla1234]

Your favourite player in Europe? Funny you never mentioned him before. Perhaps the algorithm is more favourable now.

[@hartzldn]

He said “one of”, why are people so Fickle

[@jzilla1234]

@@hartzldn who's being fickle and how?

[@srykextraodinairecreation9962]

​@@jzilla1234he is my fav player but didnt mention anywhere. Probably a fav billion of football fans and didnt mention it too. So what is your point? Do we need to mention whatever our fav are? An idiot

[@hartzldn]

@@jzilla1234 apologies Fickle is the wrong word, more accurate words are gloomy and downbeat. You assume that he mentions calafiori is his favourite players because of the “algorithm” and you intentionally disregard when he says “one of”

[@jzilla1234]

@@hartzldn he's literally never mentioned calafiore before the euros gave him a profile. Statman Dave's "analysis" has been sus for a while. I'll never forget him glazing Antony as the second coming of Cristiano Ronaldo.