Riccardo Calafiori Leads Arsenal in London Derby Against Chelsea

Riccardo Calafiori’s surge through English football continues, and now it runs straight into a London derby.

Mikel Arteta has handed the Italy international another start for Arsenal’s clash with Chelsea on Sunday afternoon, rewarding a blistering opening to the Premier League campaign from the left-sided defender.

Calafiori, shortlisted for August’s Premier League Player of the Month, has been one of Arsenal’s early-season livewires. He has produced an assist in each of the champions’ first two matches, driving forward from the back and stitching attacks together with the confidence of a player who already looks at home in north London.

He starts on the left of a back four but rarely stays there. Under Arteta, his role is far more fluid: stepping into midfield, overloading wide areas, and giving Arsenal an extra passer between the lines. Against Chelsea, that licence to roam could again be central to how the Gunners try to pin their rivals back.

On the other side of the divide, Chelsea’s own Italian option is missing. Marco Palestra remains out, still managing a minor fitness issue that keeps him from derby involvement.

At Emirates Stadium, the stage belongs to Calafiori.

Arsenal XI vs Chelsea

Arsenal: Raya; White, Konsa, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Lewis-Skelly, Odegaard; Saka, Tzolis, Havertz.