How Riccardo Calafiori will add a new dimension to Arsenal's defence and what his arrival says about Mikel Arteta's squad-building priorities.
Arsenal set a club record for goals scored in the Premier League last season with 91. But it was defensively that they really excelled. The Gunners only conceded 29 times, five fewer than Manchester City. No side got close to their tally of 18 clean sheets. Their outstanding defensive efforts were a culmination of a deliberate strategy by Mikel Arteta to build this Arsenal side from back to front.
Calafiori was even more dominant in the air, winning 71 per cent of his aerial duels - the fifth-highest success rate in Serie A last season, again putting him above any Arsenal defender. His aerial ability should further strengthen Arsenal from set-pieces, an area in which they already boast an excellent record. But his ability to adapt to different positions might be his most important attribute for Arteta. The Arsenal boss regards versatility as key.
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