Mikel Arteta offers update on 'emotional' Arsenal star after suffering injury scare
Riccardo Calafiori was seen holding onto his leg before leaving the stadium wearing a knee support - and reports claimed that he was in tears in the dressing room amid fears he could be out for a long spell
by Oli Gamp · The MirrorArsenal boss Mikel Arteta has revealed Riccardo Calafiori was "a bit emotional" after an injury scare during Arsenal's 4-2 win over Leicester City on the weekend - though he confirmed the Italian is "in contention" to play against PSG.
The Gunners only just signed the left-back from Bologna for around £42million this summer and he has impressed so far - netting a thunderbolt in the 2-2 draw against Manchester City - so there was understandable concern when he picked up a knee problem against the Foxes.
Calafiori was seen holding onto his leg before leaving the stadium wearing a knee support - and reports claimed that he was in tears in the dressing room amid fears he could be out for a long spell.
But Arteta has allayed those concerns by announcing he has a chance of playing against the French champions, shedding light on the "emotional" episode in his pre-match press conference - while also revealing Ben White is in contention two after missing the last two matches.
"We have to review them today," he said. "We didn’t run a training sessions yesterday. Obviously he [Calafiori] was a bit emotional after the game and let’s see how he is today."
When asked for the biggest thing that had impressed him since Calafiori joined the club, Arteta added: "How willing he is. The moment I spoke to him, he made it clear he wanted to come here. He felt he was going to be a perfect fit here and he was.
"He always has a smile on his face, he is likable. Plus he is a fighter who will do everything he can for the team. He has all those qualities."
Calafiori has slotted right into life at Arsenal, playing six times in all competitions for his new team and becoming a regular starter, playing 90 minutes against Leicester before picking up the late knee issue.
The Gunners will need him in defence as they prepare for a tough test at home to PSG in their second Champions League clash - one that Arteta insists they are ready for.
"We are looking forward to it," Arteta said. "These are the kind of nights we want to experience against an unbelievable opponent. We are ready for it.
"The opposition we are facing tomorrow is probably the highest level you can find European football. But it is a great opportunity for us to see how we deal with it and how prepared we are and how we can impose ourselves in this kind of context."
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