Calafiori reveals Arteta conversation behind his attacking freedom

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Riccardo Calafiori has explained how a direct conversation with Mikel Arteta convinced him to keep trusting his instincts to attack from left-back, rather than holding back his forward runs after arriving in north London.

The Italian defender was signed from Bologna largely because of his ball-carrying ability and willingness to push forward from deep positions, qualities that stood out during his time in Serie A and made him a priority target for Arsenal.

Arteta's green light

According to Calafiori, it wasn't necessarily a given that he'd be allowed to play with the same attacking freedom once he joined Arsenal. He says he raised the subject directly with Arteta, who encouraged him to keep following his natural instincts.

"Then, when I first arrived at Arsenal, it wasn't exactly like that at first, but I spoke to the manager, and he himself told me that if I have this instinct to attack the spaces, I have to do it, because it comes naturally to me," Calafiori said, via Sport Witness.

The defender made clear, though, that that freedom doesn't mean attacking without thought. He stressed the importance of picking the right moments and balancing those forward bursts with his defensive duties.

"Obviously, you have do it mentally, with ideas, and at the right times. But when they leave me free, I can express to myself much better," he added.

Goals for club and country

Calafiori's comments came shortly after he scored his first goal for the Italian national team, a moment that prompted him to reflect on how his relationship with Arteta has shaped his game at Arsenal. He has already shown he can be a threat in the final third for the Gunners, adding goals to his attacking output since his move from Bologna.

Arsenal identified a gap in their squad for a full-back capable of consistently joining attacks from deep, and Calafiori's profile was seen as filling that need. Allowing him the licence to roam forward, rather than restricting him to a more conservative defensive role, appears to be central to getting the best out of him.

The understanding between player and manager on this point looks set to remain a key feature of how Arsenal build attacks down the left side as the season continues.