Why is Calafiori Arsenal's main transfer target? 

Should it go through, what would you give this signing out of 10 and why? 🤔👇

Surely a ball carrying centre back would get penalised for handball. Seems like Arteta isn't thinking this one through.

Joe Devine has never uttered a sentence which sounded sincere

The search for a left footed player who's good at carrying the ball to back up Saka is getting crazy.

Really love this type of video not just an analysis on the player but on how he fits, the ramifications of his arrival and the other problems and things linked to it and the club. Hope we get more like this

If you watch our games last season there were so many games where the opposition team was clearly targeting our LB weakness, like Bayen, Villa, Spurs, Liverpool, and more. I guess that's one of Arteta's priority.

This would be the Ben white version for martinelli

Riccardo Calafiori is Arteta's answer to what Bayern and Porto tactically did to them in UCL last season. Where they both basically just allowed Arsenal space down the left wing or left half space because they knew Arsenal didn't have the quality to build up from deep an effective attack on that side as they can on the right. Calafiori also helps solve the problem of breaking down a low block by being more direct.

when I first heard about Arsenal's interest for Calafiori, I was a bit skeptical because I haven't heard of him aside from the Euro, so I thought it was just a mere hype. But thanks to you guys analysis that if he really can carry the ball forward to break down the lines, that would be superb, I can only imagine what that might bring especially on the half-spaces & final third. Exciting!

Surprised JJ said he's 38.5 years old. You lot strikes me as 24 year olds, fresh out of uni, recently moved back in with mum and dad, reach for the bong first thing in the morning.

In relation to Jon's point about 'cycles of challenging' I think the difference is its a young squad challenging as opposed to liverpool who had players in their prime challenging. With young players challenging at age 22 you get a good amount of years out or them challenging at the very top. Great video.

these guys would be great on a podcast together where they can crack jokes and discuss the weekends football!

Calafiori looks like Arteta’s idea of a left back who can invert and receive the ball with back to goal. If arteta can improve the squad by 1% he will.

"i think they call that everywhere" lmao 10/10

I don't like what they are suggesting at the end. It's not a matter of there are tactical problems but are constantly trying to improve even by the smallest margins. Even Real who seem perfect added Mbappe when it doesn't necessarily look necessary

Great video!

great video. thanks guys.

The chair of this is bloody hilarious 😂😂

i am waiting video for a while ❤️❤️

Amazing content… in depth analysis. Good work gents.

Just because he's the first transfer doesn't make him the main target it's just how the dealings worked out

I am enthusiastic about the potential acquisition of Riccardo Calafiori. His deployment as a left-back could significantly bolster our defensive solidity and enhance our attacking options. Historically, some of our most critical defeats have resulted from vulnerabilities on the left flank. Since Granit Xhaka's departure, our offensive output on that side has also diminished considerably. Jakub Kiwior, who was intended to be an upgrade over Oleksandr Zinchenko, lacks the attacking impetus required for a modern fullback, being more suited to a traditional center-back role. Calafiori, with his balanced defensive and offensive capabilities, presents a promising solution to the issues we have faced on the left flank. Nevertheless, there is a potential concern. Mikel Arteta has a preference for versatile players who can perform in multiple roles. While this adaptability is commendable, it has led to some challenges. For instance, the integration of Declan Rice, capable of playing both as a number 6 and a number 8, has yet to result in a clearly defined role within the squad. Similar issues have arisen with other versatile players, leading to excessive experimentation and a lack of positional certainty. It is crucial that Calafiori's versatility does not become another source of tactical inconsistency. The preseason should serve as the testing ground for such experiments to ensure a more stable and effective deployment during the competitive season.

love this content

great point about Arteta solving problems that create new ones that aren’t as bad as the original problem. This transfer in particular I think is ok bcuz it raises the floor of the team, provides cover in a very important position (LCB) and the player is young with huge potential. Would still like to see Arsenal get a more natural LB to cover wingers that may give us problems and give us a different option of attack. Great vid per usual!

It is interesting that everybody thought Rice would play 6 and Harvartz would play 8 at the start of the season, yet Rice ended up playing 8 and Harvartz was pushed up to 9. Last season didn't really go as Artate planned, but the result was still pretty good.

I believe they call that everywhere. @3:58 😁

2:51 He likes to pass the ball

listening to this on second monitor while playing a game, briefly glanced over and absentmindedly thought something along the lines of "hmm, i wonder what synths theyre using??" never questioned it, never asked myself why.

I agree with JJ bull on needing a bit of star dust in the team. Arsenal squad is full of tidy players but now they need players to really make the difference and take them over the finishing line. I also think they need to get rid of Zinchenko who’s unreliable and injury prone at best.

Arteta be like, “MOAR DEFEDRRRRRR”

He’s not our main target, he’s just the one they seem to have got done first. We won’t sign attacking reinforcements until we clear out ESR, Nketiah and Nelson

Poor Jurian Timber. Arsenal fans are eagerly looking forward to seeing him fit.

I wonder if Timber can take a DM role?

now I really need to know when is JJ's birthday to find out whether we were born the exact same day

Some of those defenders are gonna become wingers, midfilders arteta is great with youngsters ben white is so underrated , could definitely play cdm or even an 8 love this versatile thing arteta has done with the squad

nice rant from jon at the end

Seem to have forgotten that Zinchenko and Tomiyasu, the current squad left backs have had very poor injury records.

He is not the main target he is a target that they got who many wanted calm down

Calafori is a Libero or an Italian verision of John Stones now is his intelligence next level or as good as John Stones is another thing

Martinelli dropoff last season due to lack of service from LHS. I think with timber and calafiori fit and available, they solved that problem.

I don't know why it hasn't been mentioned that our problem at the LB position is that they are all injury prone players as well. Tierney, zinchenko, tomiyasu are all injury prone😂. That's also big part of the reason we have had to keep buying defenders. And I really don't understand criticising Arsenal for trying to solve their tactical problems by constantly buying players, Jon wouldn't have criticised Pep when he spent €100m on another defender. (On top of their treble squad😂)

I do like Tierney by the way, better than Zinchenko in my opinion. But Calafiori or Timber are better options for Arteta’s idea of progression from the back.

Quality player but a CM and a forward are way more of a priority as we have 3/4 players who can play at LB.

It’s neither tweaking or correction. Looks to me like Arteta is looking at a complete left -hand rebuild in defence, mid and attack.

They have Kiwior, Tierney & Zinchenko - sure one of them was going anyway, so does this mean they'd sell two left backs?

I think this guy will help push Martinelli into the box more when Calafiori is playing at left back . We’re wasting Martinelli too wide , he is not the best 1v1 winger , he is better at finishing. Him in and around the box his goal numbers will definitely go up.

0:35 "Points Are Bad" dial-tone? 💀

Mackenzie is too prone to praise Pep and what he has done. Pep has unlimited money to spend and Arteta has to deal with him with his hands tied.

I have the first three seconds of this video set as my phone alarm

Why is Joe Devine sounding so posh! ( Or some one trying that accent ). Reminds me of the Key and Peele skit about local customs.

Does this transfer fee like a vote of no confidence in Timber’s recovery?

They are back boys

we need a top striker and a midfielder, sale Zinchenko, Jakub Kiwior, Reiss Nelson, Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah then we will big trophys

I dare anyone to say the first 4 seconds of this video three times fast

Bring back the pod!

Why can’t kiwior stay as backup for big gabi and offload like tierney and zinny, calafiori and tomiyasu are more than enough i think for left back. Timber and white for right back.

Transfer strategy: Remember Arteta really hated Lisandro Martinez at that Left side of defence. This didn't work out cos Zinchenko was a back up plan. Timber was a decent option but got injured in his first game. It could be argued that Arteta is still looking for a perfect fit in that position

Riccardo Calafiori will definitely be an Arsenal player. He is naturally a centre back, but he can be a left full back. My fellow Arsenal fans,shouldn't worry. He will join us.

I think Arteta probably push Zinchenko in the midfield. Zinny weakness is Defense. That makes Kiwior & Calafiori on LB. Calafiori can play as CB which a sub to Gabriel incase any injury or Kiwi as CB.

As an italian...let me tell you, i will be shocked if in his first season he is going to make that much of a difference, Prem fans, stop saying that Serie A/italian players are not good when you keep overpaying our young players that have not yet proved themselves.

These 3 guys combine football nous with relaxed style and great chemistry. Delightful.

Great podcast!

I thought we should be recruiting a right centre back to complement saliba as we are short there and have in abundance the left footed centre backs. .

It is clear to see, LB is the only position which is not solidified in our defence.

White - Timber Saliba - Tomiyasu Gabriel - Kiwior Caleflori - Zinchenko

I’d argue all centre backs are ball carrying in the men’s game 🤭

cause he’s got aura I hear

City have Ake who always seems to lock down Saka & most attackers We need the same in a LB who is just as strong for stronger opposition This is where the 1% 5% 10% improvements come from

While he is exciting. He does leave a hole in the back. I would not play him against good counter attacking sides or transitional teams. Good player but a gamble.

I'm waiting this video for a while🎉🙏

FM 2025 new feature -> New role for centerback -> roaming playmaker

These guys are talking like Arteta bought a lot of players to play LB when in fact it's just 2 and 1 of them is Tavares. Also Zinchenko was playing with an injury last season that's why Kiwior came in for those few games.

I don’t feel like he’ll be playing CB I foresee him playing left back. Similar to how we transitioned Ben white to the right

Where'd John get the maradona sweatshirt? Anyone know the brand?

First time watch from 🇿🇦SA, love the show. 🙏🏼

If he won’t start he can give much needed rest time for Gabriel and Timber. This should be the way. The bench should be strong enough to start ahead of players playing. Kiwior we can get $20 mil Zinchenko not good against top 4 sides.

I miss the podcast so much 😢

Calafiori is the ball progressor double pivot Rice needs to play along side...

Well, it comes down to tactical applicability depending on the type of team we play against. Calafiori will play ahead of Gabriel if we play against a low block team. The reverse for Gabriel against an attacking team. A main positive of this is depth!

If he sells for a figure, that is the true market value.

Hes good

I miss your tifo videos

Ricardo Carvalhori Next Ricky c for me Not a bad compliment

I don’t see why Kiwior or Zinny need to go. We are moving on Cedric, Tavares and Tierney this season.

“Is Artea going to be more like Klopp, or more like Guardiola?” That question may haunt you longer than “you’ll never win anything with kids” hung round Hansen.

Waiting and Waiting

Wait Robbie lost some weight.. Good ish man

Does Arteta think that Kiwior cant take on the challenge?

Our left back role is cursed, almost everyone who plays there get injured

Curious where this signing would leave Timber.

Beautiful head of hair too 😉

Its surprising to me that John hasnt cottoned onto this yet. Arteta isnt buying players to play positions, he is buying profiles to get into the team. I never heard Arteta say he bought Rice as a 6 and even when he has made that kind of distinction, when he said he bought Havertz as a midfielder, he rowed back on that saying players often demonstrate to him where they'd like to play even if they dont know it. Its been the same with Ben White, Trossard, Tomiyasu, Xhaka and others all of whom demonstrated attributes that are useful in the team but not necessarily in the positions they were playing. Calafiori will be the same, yes he'll cover at LCB but he'll be a replacement for Kiwior that can play like Zinchenko.

26:10 “we can talk about the money-side all we want…” yes we can. And we Should. The argument that follows is whether Artera will be like Klopp and challenge in cycles, or more consistent like Pep. Well. To be consistent like Pep, you have to break the rules allegedly 115 times. Mind you, it’s the very own League that they play in that has charged them. Pep has been able to buy a player for £50-100m and try them out for 1 season, then buy their replacement the next season if it doesn’t work out. On multiple positions. Sure, he’s probably one of the best coaches/managers in the world. But we will never be able to fairly judge him considering the referee scandals in Spain and the financial fraud in England.

Arsenal's transfer strategy seems to be ... "Who can we sign to drop our xGA to 4 goals a season and our control to 99%." It is sensible, it's helped them a lot (as it should for the net spend)... but it's getting incredibly tedious. I have gone from liking the approach to being woefully bored of it as a neutral. Play timber and get a striker for god sake... or the football gods that be will punish you for timidity with another 2nd place.

so he's basically kieran tierney

Middle guy is unbearable to watch and listen to. Stop interjecting with your overly forced chumminess, how irritating.

Ermm Timber would have been the left back solution we needed but he got injured. They love kicking the boot into Arteta…

You can take tifo out of the name but you can't take tifo out of the guys 🤣

Is he though? In what basis are you making the claim that he's our MAIN target? Absolutely talking out of your arses.

If Only there was a shorter Name for the ball carrying centre Back...Something that Points Out the degree of freedom in a Player, that can defend and also participate in attacks. Maybe IT should be an Italien term, cause of the Flair and Style to pronounce. Maybe arteta will come Up with one? 😅