Arsenal have reportedly been handed a major injury blow after Riccardo Calafiori was forced off due to a knee issue during Italy’s 2-1 loss to Germany on Thursday night.
During the first leg of the Nations League quarterfinal, the left-back slipped and fell badly while tracking back.
The Arsenal player’s right leg fell out and landed on his left knee, raising concerns. The 22-year-old grasped onto the injured area and lay on the ground for a while, looking in pain.
Calafiori was able to finish the match as Germany’s Tim Kleindienst and Leon Goretzka responded to Italy’s first goal through Newcastle star Sandro Tonali.
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According to The Mirror, Luciano Spalletti, his manager, acknowledged that the player “felt something strange” and that tests would be performed on his knee to determine the extent of the damage.
“We still don’t know if he’s injured,” Spalletti said after the game. “Ricky felt something strange in his knee but we still don’t know.”
After the game, Calafiori was approached for an update, but the former Bologna defender declined to divulge too much information, stating, “I still don’t know.”
The Italian was out twice this season due to the same injury, and he has been dealing with knee issues ever since.
Calafiori missed a month of action at the end of October due to a knee injury, and he was out for a week in September due to a calf issue.
In December, he missed two weeks due to another knee issue. He missed ten days of action at the beginning of January due to a muscle problem, and his frequent fitness problems will worry manager Mikel Arteta.
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