“The only weak link” “He’s a pure suspect” - Fans identify flaw in Arsenal defender despite 5-2 win over West Ham

Arsenal fans were not pleased with Riccardo Calafiori's performance in their Premier League clash against West Ham on Saturday, November 30. The Gunners delivered a dominant performance in the first half, beating the Hammers 5-2 victory at the London Stadium.

Gabriel Magalhaes gave his side the lead as he headed home a Bukayo Saka corner in the 10th minute. Leandro Trossard doubled Arsenal’s lead in the 27th minute, tapping in a slick combination play between Saka and Martin Odegaard.

Odegaard added a third from the spot in (36’) after Lucas Paquetá was adjudged to have fouled Saka in the penalty area. Two minutes later, Kai Havertz raced on a Trossard pass to make it 4-0. Incredibly, West Ham tried to muster an unlikely comeback as they scored a quickfire double.

Aaron Wan-Bissaka scored from the hosts' first shot on target in the 38th minute before Emerson Palmieri curled home a freekick two minutes later. However, Arsenal added a fifth before the break as Saka dispatched his spot-kick past Lukasz Fabianski in the fifth minute of added time.

A rather subdued second half followed an electric first 45 minutes as the Gunners kept the Hammers at bay to claim their second successive Premier League win.

After the match, Arsenal fans were critical of Riccardo Calafiori’s performance and took to X to assess his performance. The Italian defender lost possession seven times and had a rating of 6.6 as per Sofascore

An X user wrote:

''Calafiori is a scrub. Zinchenko is better on the ball, better passing, more composed and better defensively. This scrub will be at FC Como inside two years. The only weak link in this team today.''

Another tweeted:

''I’ve got reservations about Calafiori’s defending. Maybe he’s getting used to the pace of the league but he’s a pure suspect anytime'

''Calafiori is great going forward but his Defensive Awareness needs work, he's not zinchenko level bad but he's not great'' @23_HJH opined

''Need to have a discussion about how good Zinchenko has been in these last 3 cameos. considering Calafiori is a crock and a bozo i need him to start a bit during this run, seems really polished technically again and is judging duels much better despite being targeted'' @fleaflickas wrote

''Calafiori is who you guys thought Arnold was, good going forward, absolute shite defensively'' @Chinweikex chimed in

''Calafiori defending absolutely horrible'' @JFNN_ wrote

''Let me say it. Calafiori is a low key defensive calamity.'' @bwanakelele asserted

I’m sorry but Calafiori is so random and unpredictable??? just serving face is not enough'' @_tiahaynes commented

''Calafiori deadarse just a 6 ft 2 zinchenko'' @Afc_DW wrote

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta on Riccardo Calafiori’s fitness

Mikel Arteta provided the fitness update of Riccardo Calafiori after their win at West Ham. Calafiori recently returned to action for Arsenal after picking up an injury against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League in October.

Since the Italian defender returned from injury, Arteta has been cautious about the player's fitness, subbing him off in the second half in Arsenal’s last three games across competitions. Against West Ham, Arteta replaced Calafiori with Oleksandr Zinchenko in the 56th minute.

After the match, Arteta was asked to provide clarity on Calafiori’s fitness, to which he responded (via Football London):

‘’Well, he’s been dealing with little niggles in the last few weeks, obviously, he’s had a very serious knee injury and he’s doing really well but we have to manage his minutes. Today we have to do the same.’’

Summer signing Calafiori has made 13 appearances across competitions for Arsenal, netting once.