Arsenal Defender Riccardo Calafiori Suffers Knee Injury During Italy's Nations League Defeat to Germany

Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori sustained a leg injury during Italy's 3-1 UEFA Nations League victory over France on Friday.

The 22-year-old, who transferred from Bologna to Arsenal this summer, was substituted in the 71st minute following a collision with France's Ousmane Dembélé, who inadvertently caught Calafiori on the back of the leg with his studs.

Italy's head coach, Luciano Spalletti, initially expressed optimism regarding Calafiori's condition, suggesting the defender might be available for Italy's subsequent match against Israel. However, Calafiori has since returned to Arsenal for further assessment by the club's medical team. 

This development adds to Arsenal's injury concerns, as fellow new signing Mikel Merino recently suffered a fractured shoulder during training. Additionally, midfielder Declan Rice is set to miss the upcoming North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur due to suspension. 

Calafiori has made two substitute appearances for Arsenal since his arrival, featuring in matches against Aston Villa and Brighton & Hove Albion. The club will be hoping for a swift recovery as they prepare for a demanding schedule, including fixtures against Tottenham, Atalanta in the UEFA Champions League, and Manchester City.