RICCARDO CALAFIORI went backpacking this summer to get over the pain of missing out on the World Cup.
Italy failed to qualify for football’s biggest party for the third tournament in a row and the Arsenal defender couldn’t bear to watch.
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Instead, he and his friends went travelling around South America, taking in the sights of Argentina, Rio de Janeiro and the waterfalls of the Iguazu River.
It was exactly the sort of holiday you would expect from Calafiori, who plays football with a youthful joy and freedom.
The Italian, 24, is Arsenal’s left-back, but that is his position in name only.
The reality is that he is far more than that and routinely pops up in attacking areas to cause chaos.
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His touch map often resembles a Jackson Pollock painting and in four games this season, Calafiori already has two assists and a goal.
It is why Mikel Arteta will be tempted to start him on Wednesday in Naples as Arsenal kick off their Champions League campaign.
Piero Hincapie could easily come into the team in place of the Italian, but he does not offer the same attacking threat.
Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has hailed Calafiori as the best left-back in the Premier League right now and it is hard to argue with that.
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Wednesday 9 September
Napoli
20:00
League Stage
Arsenal
Saturday 12 September
Sunderland
20:00
EPL
Arsenal
Tuesday 15 September
Ipswich
20:00
LEC
Arsenal
Saturday 19 September
Brighton
15:00
EPL
Arsenal
Sunday 6 September
Arsenal
2 – 1
EPL
Chelsea
Monday 31 August
Villa
0 – 1
EPL
Arsenal
Friday 21 August
Arsenal
3 – 0
EPL
Coventry
Sunday 16 August
Arsenal
3 – 0
COS
Man City
UEFA Champions League
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No one else is able to have such an influence at both ends of the pitch and Arteta stressed that after Calafiori’s goal against Manchester City in the Community Shield last month.
The Arsenal boss said: “He can be a total player. We can ask him to occupy certain areas of the pitch.
“And when he gets in and around the box he has this intuition, his timing to create goals and to score goals.
“But at the same time we ask him to do the defensive duties what he has to do, and we ask him because he’s capable of doing it.
“He knows how to do it, and if we keep him fit and available and with that physical condition, he’s a top player.”
Those in Italy will be intrigued to see Calafiori in action as he is very different from the player that left these shores two years ago.
The defender was viewed then as a centre-back and he still plays there for the national side when called upon.
But few would have predicted the 24-year-old transforming into a rampaging full-back who occupies a role no one else in world football really does.
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Arteta has always placed great value on the left-back in his systems, and Oleksandr Zinchenko four years ago revolutionised the way Arsenal play.
The Ukrainian tucked into midfield so the Gunners could dominate possession and it very nearly led them to the title in the 2022-23 season.
Calafiori’s role is far more advanced than that and he is basically an additional No10 at times, or even an extra striker.
That was actually where he played as a youngster and clearly some of those traits are still with him.
The defender took his goal against City in the Community Shield with all the composure of a veteran striker and he has benefitted from a full break this summer.
Calafiori said: “Obviously from one side, I was sad because I couldn’t go to the World Cup.
“But from the other side, I so badly wanted to do this trip around South America and finally I’ve done it.
“It was unbelievable. You need to live it, to feel it, to be there and even in pictures it is not the same.”
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After exploring South America, the hope for Calafiori is now that he has plenty of European trips with Arsenal this season.
The Gunners suffered agony in May as they lost the Champions League final to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties.
The squad is stronger now, though, and Arteta could make plenty of changes against Napoli.
Eberechi Eze and Bruno Guimaraes were unused substitutes in Sunday’s win over Chelsea, but could easily start tonight.
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Viktor Gyokeres is another in need of minutes having played less than half an hour this season.
It sums up the embarrassment of riches that Arteta has at his disposal with Calafiori, perhaps, the crown jewel.