Mikel Arteta presents a worrying moment for Calafiori’s Arsenal debut

Mikel Arteta believes Arsenal fans will have to wait a little longer to see Riccardo Calafiori make his debut.

The Italian completed a move to the Emirates from Bologna earlier in the week, with the Gunners fighting off competition from Real Madrid and Juventus for his signature.

Calafiori came out immediately to join his new team-mates on their pre-season tour of the United States but was not in the squad for the 2-1 defeat by Liverpool in Philadelphia on Wednesday.

And Arteta admitted it could be some time before we see Calafiori take the field in his Arsenal debut, with the defender – who can play as a left-back or centre-back – suffering from jetlag but training with his new club. .

“We had to treat him. He was very busy 48 hours before he took his flight to join us here, then it was jetlag, many things,” Arteta replied when asked if Calafiori would be ready to play in the coming weeks (via Arsenal. website).

“He hasn’t trained with the team yet and we want to build him up a bit to get to know him first. We will have plenty of time to see him.

Arsenal have two more friendlies before they kick off the new Premier League season at home to Wolves on August 17, first facing German champions Bayer Leverkusen before meeting French giants Lyon – both games at the Emirates Stadium.