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Riccardo Calafiori Arsenal injury return timeline before Liverpool in huge update for Mikel Arteta

Riccardo Calafiori of Arsenal warms up
-Credit: (Image: (Photo by Alex Pantling - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images))


Riccardo Calafiori will be out for a matter of weeks, according to reports in Italy. The player, who had to be taken off early in Arsenal's 1-0 Champions League group phase victory over Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday, appeared to damage his knee.

Mikel Arteta described the incident as worrying, with the summer signing unable to continue after going down and being treated by Arsenal medical staff. However, Corriere dello Sport, in Calafiori's home country, suggest that the issue is not serious.

It will almost certainly keep him out of Sunday's crunch Premier League clash with Liverpool, however. Calafiori is not the only Arsenal player struggling with fitness ahead of the game.

Arteta is already working without captain Martin Odegaard as he continues to recover from an ankle injury picked up on international duty in September. Jurrien Timber and Bukayo Saka, meanwhile, both missed the Shakhtar win.

"I don't know, sorry, he wasn't able to train yet so that's unlikely," Arteta said of Saka, speaking to Amazon Prime Video Sport earlier in the week. "Riccy [Calafiori], I don't know, he felt something and could not continue playing so [it's a] bit of a worry."

Calafiori missed the north London derby earlier this season with a calf injury he suffered whilst away with Italy. He has otherwise been a regular in the team, featuring at left-back and centre-back when needed.

READ MORE: Salah, Chiesa, Jota - Liverpool injury news and return dates for Arsenal after Champions League

READ MORE: Odegaard, Saka, Calafiori - Arsenal injury news and return dates for Liverpool

Despite the immediate worry over him falling to a knee injury, which can lead to lengthy absences, it is written that Calafiori will not be out for more than a few weeks. Before the next international break, coming after November 10, Arsenal face Liverpool, Preston North End (Carabao Cup fourth round), Newcastle, Inter, and Chelsea.

William Saliba will be out of the Liverpool match - which is approaching something of a must-not-lose for Arsenal already, as they could go to seven points behind their title rivals - due to suspension. Arne Slot's side face being without Federico Chiesa and Diogo Jota as well as Alisson Becker, Harvey Elliot, and Conor Bradley.