Mikel Arteta reveals Arsenal debut plan for Riccardo Calafiori
- Riccardo Calafiori missed Arsenal's 4-1 thrashing of Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday
- Italy international recently moved to north London from Bologna
- Manager Mikel Arteta reveals why he missed the victory at Emirates Stadium
Mikel Arteta says he hopes new Arsenal signing Riccardo Calafiori will be able to make his first appearance for the club this weekend after missing the victory over Bayer Leverkusen on Wednesday.
The Gunners powered past the German champions thanks to goals from Oleksandr Zinchenko, Leandro Trossard, Gabriel Jesus and Kai Kavertz, with Adam Hlozek netting a consolation in the 4-1 home win.
England stars Bukayo Saka and Declan Rice made appearances from the bench but there was no place in the matchday squad for Italy international Calafiori or fellow defender Jurrien Timber.
The summer signing didn't get any minutes on Wednesday evening, but Arteta has revealed he could be in contention to make his unofficial debut in Sunday's friendly against Lyon, Arsenal's last pre-season outing before the start of the Premier League campaign.
He told reporters after the win: "With regards to Riccardo, so much has happened to him in one week. He has come into a new environment, a completely different methodology, different training and we are managing him.
"We want to do it slowly, to get him in the best possible way. Hopefully on Sunday he will be available to play some minutes."
Arsenal's international stars have missed the majority of pre-season but Arteta was confident the club have given players like Saka and Rice enough time off for them to be fresh for the start of the 2024/25 campaign.
The Spaniard added: "The season starts in nine or ten days so they have to be ready.
"These are the demands they have right now. We really look after them when they are with us, when we have the ability to give them days off we do.
"We gave them days off before the start of the Euros and we have given them the rest that they needed.
"The best thing to do is to look in their faces and there is that spark in their eyes, to come back and say: 'I don't want to miss it because I know how hard it is going to be.' That is the best sign, that the players want it."
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