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Italian media’s Riccardo Calafiori verdict as Arsenal ace struggles against Leandro Trossard in Italy draw with Belgium
Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori was in international action on Thursday night as he faced off against Gunners teammate Leandro Trossard.
The Arsenal summer signing lined up for Italy against Belgium in a Nations League encounter at Rome’s Stadio Olimpico.
Calafiori’s Italy dominated in the first half as Andrea Cambiaso opened the scoring within the first minute and Mateo Retegui added a second on 24 minutes.
However, the Azzurri then went a man down in the 40th minute as Lorenzo Pellegrini was sent off for a studs-up tackle on Belgium defender Arthur Theate.
The visitors’ fightback began two minutes later as Maxim De Cuyper halved the deficit, before Trossard went from assister to scorer in the 61st minute.
Here’s what the Italian media made of Calafiori’s display against his Arsenal teammate and his Belgium charges.
Riccardo Calafiori in ‘wrong position’ against Arsenal teammate Leandro Trossard
gave the Gunners defender a 5.5 out of 10 and wrote: ‘Clean performance until the 61st minute, when he was surprised from behind by Trossard and Belgium equalized.
‘In a situation of numerical parity he had been an insurmountable wall like his teammates in the department.’
went with a 5 out of 10, writing: ‘He doesn’t cover Trossard, and the 29-year-old from Arsenal does not forgive.’
gave Calafiori a 6.5 and wrote: ‘For 38 minutes, he gets bored in the back, and whenever he can he supports Ricci in the direction of the midfield work.
‘Confidence in his feet and swagger with his head held high. After the expulsion the story changes. No license, just running and sweating.’
Finally, gave the Arsenal man a 5.5 and wrote: ‘Not enough duels won. He was in the wrong position when his Arsenal teammate Trossard bagged the equaliser in the second half.’
READ MORE: Paul Merson says Arsenal have a player who plays ‘light-years ahead of his time’
Calafiori stats
As per , Calafiori took 55 touches of the ball and completed 38 of his 42 passes, or 90 percent, along with successfully finding the target with three long balls.
He also weighed in with four clearances, one tackle and one block, and won two of his six ground duels and all three of his aerial duels.
When are Italy next in action?
Italy host Israel in a Nations League fixture at Udinese’s Bluenergy Stadium on Monday 14 October, 7:45pm kick-off.