Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori suffers FREAK injury while playing for Italy with £42m man forced off against France, handing Mikel Arteta major scare

Arsenal have been dealt a major injury scare after Riccardo Calafiori was forced off during Italy’s victory against France in the Nations League last night. 

The defender, a £42million summer signing at the Emirates, suffered a freak blow to his ankle after Ousmane Dembele landed on him, having been tackled himself.

Italy’s Alessandro Bastoni won the ball from the winger but caught him on the follow-through with Dembele’s flailing leg subsequently connecting with Calafiori.

Calafiori played just over an hour of the showdown at the Parc des Princes but was removed by medics shortly after the incident with the visitors leading 3-1.

In scenes that will have worried Mikel Arteta, the full back had looked in significant pain while on the floor as his visibly concerned team-mates gathered around him. 

Calafiori picked up a bizarre knock to his ankle during the 3-1 victory over France in Paris

However, Italy boss Luciano Spalletti alleviated fears he was set for a lengthy spell on the treatment table and revealed he could even return against Israel on Monday.

‘We need to assess Riccardo but with our staff, we’ve a good chance to have him back with us for the next game,’ Spalletti told reporters.

Calafiori has made two appearances for Arsenal since joining from Serie A club Bologna – after being introduced as a second-half substitute against Aston Villa and Brighton. 

Arsenal return from the international break against fierce rivals Tottenham. 

They will be without midfield anchor Declan Rice, who will miss out through suspension after his sending off last weekend following a bizarre incident.

Mikel Merino is also out due to an injury sustained during his first training session. 

Calafiori’s team-mates were visibly concerned and the full back was substituted off

The incident comes before Mikel Arteta’s side return to action against rivals Tottenham

Calafiori has made two appearances since joining Arsenal from Bologna in a £42million deal

Italy fell behind after Bradley Barcola’s breakthrough in Paris last night but they rallied back to win 3-1, their first victory over France in the capital in 70 years.

Incredibly, Barcola’s goal after just 14 seconds was the fastest conceded in Italy’s history, the winger having curled into the net after a sloppy defensive error. 

Federico Dimarco, Davide Frattesi and Giacomo Raspadori were on target for the Azzurri, who were knocked out of Euro 2024 in the last-16 earlier this summer.