Arsenal are left sweating as star suffers ‘strange’ knee injury in last minute of Nations League defeat

Arsenal were sweating over another potential injury blow on Thursday night after one of their stars suffered an awkward fall on international duty. 

Riccardo Calafiori looked to injure his left knee after slipping unprompted in the 92nd minute of Italy’s 2-1 Nations League quarter-final defeat by Germany. 

The defender immediately held his knee and had to come off for what remained of the game, leaving Italy with 10 men.

Now the Gunners will anxiously await the results of testing and hope he doesn’t join Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Takehiro Tomiyasu, and Raheem Sterling on the treatment table. 

Calafiori has already spent four separate spells on the sidelines this season due to knocks.

The issue of his left knee is particularly sensitive after a devastating injury when he was 16 at Roma, where he ruptured all his ligaments in that knee and there were efars he would struggle to even walk.

He said he ‘did not know’ how serious it was going to be after being forced to come off 

The 22-year-old was able to walk off unaided but did not complete the game as Italy lost 2-1 to Germany

His first-ever tattoo – ‘never give up’ – harks back to that period of his life. 

After his latest potential setback against Germany, Italy manager Luciano Spalletti said: ‘He said that his knee feels strange, but cannot answer more precisely than that, so we’ll have to see.’

Asked how serious the blow is, Calafiori replied: ‘I still don’t know.’

Calafiori, 22, had been trying to change direction when he lost his footing and fell on Thursday night. 

He was able to walk off independently after being seen to by Italy’s physios.  

It remains to be seen if he will be in action in the return leg against Germany on Sunday. 

Arsenal’s next fixture is against Fulham on April 1 and they will face Real Madrid on April 8 and 16 in the Champions League quarter-finals.