Riccardo Calafiori’s transformation at Arsenal is beginning to influence how he is used at international level.
The defender started at left-back as Italy opened their Nations League campaign with a 2-0 defeat to Belgium on Friday night.
That position has become completely normal for Arsenal supporters.
For Italy, it represents a significant change.
Calafiori built much of his reputation in Serie A as a centre-back and has generally occupied central defensive roles for his country, but Roberto Mancini is now exploring whether the 24-year-old can reproduce the qualities Mikel Arteta has unlocked from the left.
Italy hand Calafiori Arsenal-style role
Football Italia highlighted the change before the international break, explaining that Federico Dimarco’s injury had created an opportunity for Calafiori to operate at left-back.
Mancini has switched Italy towards a 4-3-3 system following his return as head coach.
Calafiori was subsequently named on the left side of the back four against Belgium, alongside Gianluca Mancini and Diego Coppola centrally.
It placed the Arsenal defender in a much more familiar club role.
The result itself was disappointing.
Belgium won 2-0 at the Stadio Olimpico through goals from Mika Godts and Dodi Lukebakio, giving Mancini a difficult start to his second spell in charge.
For Arsenal, however, Calafiori’s position was notable.
Arteta has transformed Calafiori at left-back
Calafiori arrived at Arsenal with extensive experience as a central defender.
Arteta has increasingly developed him into something far less conventional.
The Italian nominally starts at left-back but regularly moves into midfield, attacks central spaces and makes aggressive underlapping runs beyond Arsenal’s forwards.
Sky Sports recently analysed Calafiori’s unusual positioning, with Jamie Carragher describing him as the best left-back in the Premier League after his excellent start to the season.
Those movements have already produced attacking returns.
Calafiori assisted goals against Coventry and Aston Villa and was subsequently nominated for the Premier League Player of the Month award.
He has also become increasingly important to the combinations Arsenal create on the left flank.
Italy could benefit from Arsenal’s Calafiori development
The challenge for Mancini will be deciding how much freedom to give Calafiori.
Arteta’s system is carefully structured around allowing the defender to leave his nominal position.
Other players rotate around him when he moves into midfield or attacks the penalty area, ensuring Arsenal remain protected against transitions.
Italy cannot simply reproduce that structure overnight.
But deploying Calafiori at left-back at least gives Mancini an opportunity to use a version of the player who has become increasingly influential in north London.
It also represents another sign of just how much his game has evolved since moving to England.
Calafiori was once viewed primarily as a centre-back who could cover on the left.
At Arsenal, that description no longer fits.
Italy are now beginning to adapt accordingly.
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