Arsenal’s commanding 3-0 lead over Real Madrid gives them a golden opportunity to reach the Champions League semi-finals — and they may receive an added defensive boost ahead of next Wednesday’s second leg at the Bernabéu.
Riccardo Calafiori, who has missed the last three games with a knee injury, could make his return to the squad, either as a starter or an option from the bench.
The Italian international picked up the issue on duty with the Azzurri during the recent international break, ruling him out of clashes with Fulham, Everton, and Madrid. However, Mikel Arteta offered an encouraging update after Arsenal’s latest win:
“Ricky’s progressing really well,” the manager confirmed. “I think to give you a timeline is difficult because he needs to step up, especially having more people around and how he reacts after that. But he’s in a good place.”
Calafiori’s return would be a huge boost for Arsenal’s backline. His versatility means he could feature at left centre-back or left-back — a potential solution if Real Madrid aim to exploit Arsenal’s flanks. The Italian’s calmness in possession and strong defensive instincts could be key in helping the Gunners weather the early storm and protect their advantage.
With the second leg set to be a high-pressure affair, having a defender of Calafiori’s quality available again, from the start or the bench, could make all the difference — whether he starts or is introduced late on to help shut the game down.
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