“Expert Weighs In on Riccardo Calafiori’s Injury After Arsenal Victory, Sparking ACL Worries”
“Expert Weighs In on Riccardo Calafiori’s Injury After Arsenal Victory, Sparking ACL Worries”
Riccardo Calafiori was forced to leave the pitch during Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Shakhtar Donetsk.
An injury expert has provided insight into Calafiori’s suspected knee injury, which occurred during Arsenal’s Champions League win at the Emirates Stadium, bringing their points total to seven out of nine.
Midway through the second half, Calafiori sustained a knee injury, raising new concerns for the team. He attempted to continue but was unable to finish the match and was substituted by Myles Lewis-Skelly.
Footage of the incident circulated on social media, sparking immediate concern among Arsenal fans, who feared a serious knee injury due to how his leg extended after planting into the ground.
Football injury analyst, Physio Scout, has since given their analysis on the potential injury for the Arsenal left-back.
Despite fears of an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury, the analyst suggests the motion of the knee points more towards a medial collateral ligament (MCL) injury.
Physio Scout noted: “Physio was seen performing a valgus stress test, which assesses the structure of the MCL. Scans will be necessary, but let’s hope it’s only a minor/moderate MCL sprain.”
Should it be a Grade 3 MCL injury, Calafiori could face up to 10 weeks on the sidelines.
Calafiori’s injury, which occurred without contact, forced his knee into a valgus position but seemed more like a slide-related injury rather than one caused by sudden directional changes or pivoting—suggesting it’s likely an MCL injury, rather than an ACL tear.
With Arsenal set to face Liverpool this weekend, Mikel Arteta will be anxiously awaiting updates on Calafiori’s fitness, with the Italian almost certain to miss the match.
The Gunners are already short on defenders, with William Saliba suspended and Jurrien Timber and Takehiro Tomiyasu also sidelined through injury.
Oleksandr Zinchenko, who has only recently returned from a calf injury, is an option at left-back, though he was an unused substitute in the win against Shakhtar.
