Riccardo Calafiori thinks that Arsenal were just one key detail away from turning their performance against Manchester City on Sunday into a win at the Emirates.
Arsenal drew 1-1 thanks to Gabriel Martinelli’s stoppage-time equaliser, but spent most of the afternoon chasing after Erling Haaland’s opener as City retreated into a Mourinho-like defensive shell.
With Mikel Arteta’s substitutions eventually breaking down the visitors’ deep block, Arsenal finished with more possession, more shots, and the only side with any attacking intent, yet left the pitch with only a point.
Speaking after the match, Calafiori explained that the manager’s message at half-time was to trust in the performance rather than make sweeping changes. “Just to keep playing like that and to nail some situations, to try and do a little bit better in some situations,” he told Stadium Astro, via TBR, when asked what the boss had said.
Reflecting on what Arsenal needed to improve, the defender was clear. “I think we done it at the end, and maybe next time we will not concede that goal earlier, so that’s the only thing to improve I think.”