Riccardo Calafiori says he is eager to renew his rivalry with Sandro Tonali in England while helping Arsenal add to their collection of trophies.
The Italy defender welcomed the growing presence of Italian players in the Premier League, with Marco Palestra the latest compatriot to arrive in the competition.
“It gives me great pleasure,” Calafiori told Sky Sport. “With Sandro it’ll be a lovely derby, naturally I hope to win both. It’s nice to have him in the same city, even if we defend completely opposite colours. I wish him, Palestra and all the new arrivals the very best. Deep down, I feel a little less alone.”
Calafiori and Tonali will now be based in the same city, although they represent clubs with contrasting colours and will compete against each other. The Arsenal defender said he was looking forward to the contests and hoped to come out on top in both meetings.
His comments also reflected the increasing number of Italian players competing in England. Calafiori said their arrival had made him feel less isolated, while extending his best wishes to Tonali, Palestra and all the other new arrivals.
The defender also discussed his experience of watching a World Cup that Italy failed to qualify for.
“I experienced it in a particular way. I was busy and had partly decided to follow it less closely,” he said.
“But I couldn’t miss the semi-finals and the final, especially with so many of my team-mates involved. It was very emotional, it gave me a lot of drive and hope of one day qualifying with Italy for a major tournament.”
Calafiori recalled watching two matches in Buenos Aires and Rio, describing the passion for football in both cities as all-consuming. He also expressed the hope that Italy could rediscover that same intensity and enthusiasm for the game.
The Italy international said his immediate personal priority was to remain fit and available throughout the campaign. He believes doing so would allow him to make a significant contribution to Arsenal’s efforts.
“My personal goal is always the same: to be available for the whole season,” he said.
“If I manage that, I can be really important for the team.”
Calafiori also made clear that Arsenal’s ambitions extend beyond what they have already achieved. He wants the club to challenge for further honours and at least repeat last season’s performance, while aiming to improve on it if possible.
“We still have plenty of trophies to win. The aim is to at least match last season, if not do even better.”
His message combines a personal objective with a collective one: maintaining his fitness for the full season while helping Arsenal compete for more silverware. Alongside that challenge, he will face the added interest of meeting Tonali in what he expects to be a “lovely derby” between two Italian players sharing the same English city but defending opposite colours.
