Emmanuel Petit has slammed Arsenal’s decision to sign Riccardo Calafiori – and has suggested an alternative.
The Italian defender completed a £42m move to the Emirates Stadium in the summer. He joined from Serie A side Bologna after impressing at Euro 2024.
Calafiori has made 16 appearances so far across his debut season having suffered with calf and knee injuries. His contributions have been crucial to Arsenal given Ben White and Takehiro Tomiyasu’s long-term injuries.
Despite that, Petit remains unconvinced and believes that the fee Arsenal paid for him would have been better spent on a different position. Speaking to Casino Utan Spelpaus, the Frenchman said: “They should have addressed that [lack of strikers] in the last transfer window.
“They should have bought a striker. I know that they extended the quality of the squad with a couple of players, but they added to positions they were well covered in. They signed Riccardo Calafiori, but they already had two or three players that could play at left back.
“I’m a big fan of Calafiori but when you look at it, when you look at the young guy Lewis-Skelly, he’s doing so well, and Zinchenko is on the bench most of the time, so they had that part of the pitch covered.
“I can understand that when you play every three days and you have to compete in every competition, that you need squad depth, but the striker position was a priority. I don’t know why Arsenal didn’t go for a proper striker last summer. Arsenal won’t be able to bring in the top, top quality striker they desire in January.
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“They won’t be able to do it. I know they have some wingers and strikers on their shopping list, I know the fans are desperate to see someone coming in who can convert all the chances that the team creates, but it’s not going to happen in January. The January market is a very difficult market to shop in.”
Despite Petit’s comments about Arsenal’s recent business, they have already been busy in January. Mikel Arteta’s side are closing in on a deal for Real Sociedad Martin Zubimendi, who has a £51m release clause written into his contract with the Spanish side.
They could potentially turn their attention to a new forward, particularly with Gabriel Jesus’ injury blow. The Brazilian is expected to miss the remainder of the season after injuring his cruciate ligament.
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