The INCREDIBLE Talent That Makes Calafiori Perfect For Arsenal. 

We were so lucky with CBs staying healthy last year that we almost forget about how badly we dropped off when Saliba got hurt in 22/23. Timber and Calafiori give us depth like we haven’t had in a long time as well as tactical flexibility. With Calafiori we could have options such as going to a back 3 of Calafiori Saliba and White and bring on an extra attacker, if we’re chasing a game late And we can avoid Gabriel and Saliba both playing 40+ games a season. Now we need someone that can fill in for Saka

I don’t know how to explain it but he’s such an arsenal player, it just makes sense!

Arteta building a team of big strong technical athletic beasts. Reminds me of Wengers invincibles. Bergkamp, henry, viera, gilberto, edu, Campbell. Physically dominating teams.

Always wanted an italian defender at my club.

What a beautiful man

James there are tons of good videos out about Calafiori on youtube right now, but your analysis is unlike any I've seen It aint the first time either. Love your work bro

Fabio viera is the guy who is currently in the arsenal squad who can unlock that beast inside martinelli. You can see off the pitch how much they both enjoy themselves together at the training sessions and how much they trust each other. That trust and that chemistry between them is also mentioned by arteta, if we dont buy an 8 then we can see that calafiore, fabio and martinelli triangle work. Fabio is an excellent guy, he can dribble, he can carry the ball, he can do those exquisite long shots, hes absolutely loved and believed to be the most talented player in the arsenal squad by everyone including odegaard himself. Hes just lovely i think he will have a great season and martinelli too. I think theyll be the standouts including timber this season.

With Arsenals interest in Merino i think Rice will play as the 6 with Merino as the left 8 with the possibility of them interchanging depending on game state

First video of yours I've seen, and I'm impressed. You make insightful, original observations and back it up with excellent visuals. You're analysis is not too slow and laboured either - I like your swift, yet clear, pace of voice. Great job! 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽

As much as I'd love Merino, if the rumours about Arsenal chasing Fabian Ruiz are true, he would transform that left hand side.

I can imagine how excited Arteta was when presenting his paper / video analysis on Calafiori to the board. He was probably speaking just as James 😂

My sweet sweet Gunners! These are exciting times for us. Always enjoy your analysis James.

Timber played in midfield a lot for the 23's on his way back, could see him being used in Jorginhos role.

Calafiori will be a good signing

Answering the question asked at the end... Probably that's why Merino is an interest now. Adding him into the squad with his technical ability and moving Rice to a number 6 position could solve the problem. On the other hand I'd like to highlight Timber as well. He is so sick if it comes to dribbling, passing and utilizing open space he could probably become an incredible number 8.

I thnk we gotta chill on the expectations. EPL is a different monster. Especially on transition and having very little time to react and make the right play. For Roma he had a disastrous knee injury. Infact for awhile we were called ACL Roma due to the fact alot of the players who tearing their knees. Going as far back as Rudiger to Tammy Abraham coming back from his knee tear at the end the season. A few youngsters were highly rated and were never the same after ripping their knees apart. Calafiori had one of the worst injuries like full tear of ACL, MCL, LCL and patella tears. We had Mourinho at the time. We were obligated to buy "ready" players( Wijnaldum, belotti, Celik, Borja Mayoral...Mhkhitaryan damn) and took our gambles on injury prone players (Dybala, Matic etc) and loans (Lukakau... Renato Sanches you get it by now lol) for the last year. The year before was even worse especially with Tammy going down hurt. That also meant selling a bunch of kids for nice profits. Tahirovic to Ajax, Volpato to Sassuolo a bunch of others as well. Sadly we didn't believe he would get back on track but are still very happy and proud to see him explode this season at Bologna and with the Italy national team. Just wait till you see his volleys and shooting. Waffling aside, I think he'll fit well and will get regularly better. I hope he stays injury free and is given space to grow cause that first half season is gonna be tough adjusting to the fitness and strength. Good luck. Take down Pep...he's been chilling since Klopp left. Looking more relaxed and smiling....hahah.

That Bologna’s team was amazing.

His game against juventus was phenomenal. He scored 2 goals which his 2nd goal was so cool; and both of them were not from set piece. And after motta subbed him off, juve equalised.

Arsenal has the best backline in the league

Liverpool fan here but I've hopped on the Calafiori bandwagon big time since Arsenal signed him. I've watched so many analysis videos of him and I think he's a massive signing that solidifies the Gunners with one of the best back lines in the world. This dude is UNIQUE and I can't wait to watch him in the Premier League. I hope he thrives honestly (except against us, and not enough to beat us out of the title race lol)

16:10 … the answer to the player who will help create the triangle on the left is Ethan Nwaneri

Talking abt the last part of the video, there were a lot of moments when trossard played up front where he’d drift to the left half spaces and play between kiwior and martinelli. I think he could be an option for that 8 role, or havertz, with the two of them constantly rotating between those half spaces and moving up into the box. The adaptability of that tactic is something arteta has shown to love, but would only be an option for teams who won’t trouble Arsenal at the back, as neither trossard nor havertz r good midfield options in the 442 Arsenal use defensively, but could be something for the lower teams who will look to park the bus and keep Arsenal out of the middle of the pitch

I love that Arteta is making Arsenal team tall and strong again. Wenger got it totally wrong with the prediction that all players will be small and technical like that Barcelona team back in the day.

I totally agree on the Rice point at the end but thsts exactly why MA wants a new left 8 in Merino

Arteta clearly wants a squad of players who can be utilised in 2 or 3 different ways, so far he has built one of the most versatile squads in the league which can be changed around multiple times in matches

Great content James, just on your question at the end.. As an Arsenal fan I've noticed a few trends with Arteta and pre-season. Nwaneri this year seems to be getting a lot of game time and I know there's been a path laid out for him in terms of how he regularly gets into the senior squad behind the scenes which is why he signed the contract despite interest from a lot of top clubs elsewhere, I think he could be this guy in the 'left 8' 👍

What a great breakdown, was excited for the signing but this put me over the top

The best defence in the league just got even better

Great video!

In terms of the LHS triangle, I see Merino there with Rice as the 6

Great analysis, great video.

Perfect Granit replacement, great at the back Great going forward

I like Ruiz who you mentioned and I also love Olmo there, there was a rumour about him to Chelsea so maybe a prem move is on

What is the software you use when analysing? I'm a grassroots coach and looking for a good software.

Great video! As you said, Rice will be utilised differently and in games with low block he will, imo play as a DM. With Havertz dropping to that midfield role and Jesus up top. I honestly have no idea where Merino will fit in, maybe just width of the squad?

As sure as you're reading this, Jimbo will hit 1m subs. He's so made for this, a brilliant, entertaining fella to watch breaking down football in/outs. IDK if he's declined offers for mainstream football shows, to stay his own master, but when when i think of some of the utter dross, unwatchable, unlistenable inane pundits on the other channels, this must be the case. Arsenal's recruitment in recent seasons has improved so much, which our league positioning reflecting this. Calafiora sure stood out in the Euro's, in a disappointing, for Italy's own high standards. Welcome to AFC!

Calafiori love🎶

I do feel like Timber was brought to do this but they need a left footed version of him to cover multiple positions. But interesting to see what happens to Zinchenko, Kiwior or Tomi. All unique players

Arteta building an Arsenal

Im excited to see Yoru and Calafiori play

The idea that Rice is better as an 8 is such a myth made by the media. His best game was against Palace and West Ham and in both games he played as a 6

I genuinely thing we have the best defence in the world heading into this season. Flexibility and defensive prowess. The fact Kiwior will barely play is insane he could easily be a top quality starting LCB elsewhere

you are forgetting how much he will compliment Martinelli and thing with opening much more spaces for him and others in mid. That would be quiet crucial for Arsenal left side attack and defence, tbh I predict first or again second place but in that case they will win some other major trophy

He even saw when someone was about to clatter him 😂 fair play

reckon fabio vieira could be the option for that left half space with rice sitting behind in certain games

He was a good amateur boxer to. He represented his country as a Jr

Great analysis thanks for sharing all good, apart from why u got Martenelli ahead of Trossard… dont leave out my guy he did wonders on the left both attacking and defending. Imagine that link up with our new Italian Stallion🙏🏽COYG

Quality video once again James. Just a few questions mate. Do you think Calafiori is the final piece Arsenal need to pip City or more is needed? I think much more is needed. Also, do you think Declan Rice has the skill set to play higher up the pitch? I think he’s limited in that creative sense and in games where teams play incredibly deep, I don’t trust Declan Rice to work well in tight spaces. Would love to know your thoughts. LMAOOO I didn’t finish the video, you mentioned his inability to play in tight half spaces.

We can play him as cb and play like cdm to overload the mid field and timber on the lb to overlap

idk about him, but YOU are the master of analysis!

Nwaneri at left 8

How has this man not done a single video on villa!!??

Glazing

The moment he put rice in the 6 and said "feels like he can do that" made me burst a laugh

Badman defender. If he does indeed play regularly in midfield with jorginho i think he'll be his long term replacement. But with size, strength and elite defence. And they're both italian, making it easier to pass on the knowledge. If he gets 70% of jorginho's game reading before he leaves, we're set. He looks special.

i see a lot of similar qualities to xhaka as he used to play fulback and that second ball hoover.

so is he likely to start ahead of timber or will he be a rotation player ?

Cucurella plays like that under Pochettino… I hope Maresca doesn’t stop his momentum

nwaneri as a lcm 👀

to answer that final question, i think Havertz can play that left 8/10 when needed in that scenario with Jesus stepping in as the 9

Nelli will shine this season with the effect of that monster we are signing.

so, no credit to Motta's training?? you lads are terrific

You are football intelligent

If they can also sign Merino and Goykeres they will win the window hands down and really be a contender for the PL title and push for a deep run in the CL. COYG !!!

I can never understand why these fanboy types are always surprised at tall blokes's agility. Just because someone's tall, it doesn't mean they should be clumsy. I'm 6'4" and have 2 Dans in Judo - I'm `as agile as the next bloke and I never thought that I couldn't be agile by being tall. It's these shorties you have to look out for. It's jealously. And hightist.

He’s going to be what we thought Zinchenko would be

What is the name of the website that you use?

Makes sense but Partey plays a crucial role in our wins. He’s got a great ability of breaking lines with his instincts and passing accuracy

This is exactly how Udogie plays for the other north London team

I think Calafiori is a backup for Gabriel. A like to like defender as Ben White on the left.

I'm a liverpool supporter. I sincerely think we don't need him. But I wanted him. He reminds me of Matip and his adventures going forward, but prettier.

How Jose being manager of Roma eventually lead to Arsenal winning the premier league

I think the first eleven will have Saliba and Calafiori in yhe center Timber on the left and White on the right.

We have our very own italian starboy ❤❤❤

Arsenal's left side is likely to be very strong this season. Martinelli may end up scoring 20+ goals. COYG!!!

Building this team feels like Wenger building that invincible squad est 2003 part 2 coming...

City have grealish/Doku on LW Arsenal add Eze and Martinilli on LW

Who's the last Italian defender to be successful in the Prem?

Suggest you show a few seconds of the clip you are talking about in normal time and then slow it down when making the analysis so everyone can follow along and be as enthusiastic as you are in your video. I kept waiting to see the actual clip and was disappointed in each case. Good video overall though.

How do you think Merino would fit in?

mini ibra cb

F. Vieira in the LCM role to unlock those around him, especially Martinelli

We are becoming Runway FC.

Maybe I’m the only one, but I wish you would just play the videos through before going back and going frame by frame. It’s tough to watch without the context of the full video at normal speed. 😅

best defender since Maldini, unless there's some corruption and bribery going on this Arsenal team will not consider a single goal next season

Arteta often surprises...I loved the analysis, but I'm not ruling out calafiori slotting next to Saliba and Timber left back. Arteta dropped Gabriel last season before he upped his game. Doesn't like how he struggles to see a pass up the pitch quickly.

He's always looked like an Arsenal player even before we've signed him and most definitely looks like the perfect Mikel Arteta player...... which is alright by me.

Don’t you just love it when people over-analyse the most basic aspects of modern football?

Calafiore should have moved to juventus(serie a) or moved to a team like barcelona and turned into a world class defender. It would have suited him way better than the prem

Is Odegaard getting the number 10 shirt?

Anyone know the software using at 10:11 ?

Ricardo might just be that tall agile player Arteta likes .

I don't think Rice will be the one to go forward. I think Rice will hold back Calafiori pushes wide with Martinelli being the one to move more central.

could you make a yoro video please james!!!

Wasnt Timber supposed to play LB?

Now let's get Fabian Ruiz !

Personally for our mid block penetration, I’m certain we need to sign a left 8 like Eze. For the second system you showed, an Eze would be perfect. He can go outside and outside of Martinelli, offers enough defensively and we have seen can drop and cover a left wing back area if needed.

We've so many options no team is going to know how we are going to set up. Your team didn't event show Timber, Partey, Jesus, Trossard etc. Exciting times.

Dudes handsome af, damnnnn ! 🖤

Who is he and is he good