Arsenal star admits he has bigger responsibility this season

Riccardo Calafiori has admitted he feels a responsibility to step up at Arsenal now, having already been at the club for a couple of seasons.

Riccardo Calafiori scored Arsenal’s equalising goal in their win over Leeds United on Saturday, his first goal at the Emirates Stadium.

Left-back Calafiori had scored five goals in his first couple of campaigns for the Gunners, but four were away from home (Manchester City, Wolves, PSV, and Manchester United) and one at a neutral venue (City again). So it was good to see him getting off the mark in front of the home support.

Speaking to TNT Sports after the game, Calafiori insisted he feels that now he’s in his third season at Arsenal, he has an increased responsibility to give his best.

“I feel this kind of responsibility (to step up),” Calafiori said. “It’s been three seasons with the same [team] at Arsenal, everything comes a bit easier, what the coach wants, what your teammates want.

“So I need to step up in some ways. Physically, I feel that good that I think you can see on the pitch the way I’m helping the team, and I want to keep going in this way.”

Unfortunately, it looks like Arsenal may well be relying on Calafiori again this month. Piero Hincapie looks to have picked up another injury, leaving the Gunners with limited options at left-back.

Myles Lewis-Skelly is another player who can fill in, but Arsenal are increasingly starting the midfielder in his preferred position. Moving him to left-back would mean needing someone else to play centrally.

Calafiori can’t play every game, particularly with the major physical demands his roaming playing style puts on his body. But Arsenal will likely need him to give everything he can over the next few weeks.

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