Arsenal full-back Riccardo Calafiori has highlighted the club’s ambition ahead of the new season, emphasizing the importance of recent high-profile signings like Bruno Guimaraes in maintaining their status as title contenders. The Brazilian midfielder, 28, is set to become the second-most expensive signing in Arsenal’s history after a £75 million transfer from Newcastle United was agreed following a prolonged negotiation between the two clubs.
Calafiori expressed optimism about the impact of adding players of Guimaraes’ calibre, stating that the club aims not only to reach but to sustain a high level of performance. “Of course, I think it’s the level that we want to reach, and we want to stay at this level, and that’s the season we want,” the Italian defender said. He further described the Premier League as entering a “new cycle,” affirming Arsenal’s desire to remain competitive throughout.
The 24-year-old Calafiori also reflected on the personal challenges he faced this summer, having missed out on the World Cup after Italy failed to qualify following a defeat to Sweden. He admitted the experience made it difficult to watch the tournament, though he expressed happiness for Arsenal teammates who participated, particularly the three Spanish internationals in the squad. “I haven’t watched a lot,” he said. “I have so much pain in my tummy to not qualify, and also I kind of hurt how big it was. Even if you don’t want to watch the World Cup, it’s that big that everywhere you go, you still see it on TV every match.”
Despite setbacks from injuries that have affected his career, Calafiori sees the off-season as a chance to recharge and channel his disappointment into motivation for the coming campaign. “I had a good window to rest,” he noted. “Of course, I have to give this energy that I have still in my body for my team. I think I can help the team a lot this season.”
Although Arsenal secured the Premier League title last season, Calafiori acknowledged the frustration felt within the squad over narrowly missed opportunities, including defeats in the Champions League and Carabao Cup finals. The club’s manager, Mikel Arteta, reportedly described the team as “fuming” after a pre-season friendly loss to Real Betis, underscoring the determination to improve.
“It’s not that complicated,” Calafiori said when asked about pushing to reach higher heights despite recent success. “Because obviously we reached two finals last season and we lost them. It’s so easy to start again from there and to try to win it.”
With significant investment in new talent and a renewed focus following last season’s near misses, Arsenal appear poised to continue their pursuit of silverware across multiple competitions.