Riccardo Calafiori injury: Italy boss Luciano Spalletti provides update after Arsenal star's freak clash against France

What happened to Riccardo Calafiori?

Riccardo Calafiori, the Arsenal defender, has been ruled out of Italy's upcoming matches against England and Hungary after suffering an ankle injury in a freak training ground collision with team-mate Alessandro Florenzi.

The 20-year-old left-back was stretchered off during the session at Coverciano on Tuesday and was taken to hospital for scans. The results showed that he has suffered a sprained ankle, which will keep him out of action for at least two weeks.

Calafiori has been a regular for Italy at youth level and was hoping to make his senior debut in the upcoming matches. However, he will now have to wait until at least the next international break for his chance.

What has Luciano Spalletti said about Calafiori's injury?

Italy boss Luciano Spalletti has expressed his disappointment at losing Calafiori for the upcoming matches.

"It's a shame to lose Riccardo for these games," Spalletti said. "He's a talented young player and I was looking forward to seeing him in action.

"However, I'm confident that he will come back stronger from this setback. We will give him all the support he needs to get back to full fitness as soon as possible."

What does Calafiori's injury mean for Arsenal?

Calafiori's injury could mean that Kieran Tierney will have to play a lot of football in the coming weeks.

The Scotland international has been in excellent form for Arsenal this season and is one of the best left-backs in the Premier League. However, he has a history of injury problems and Arsenal will be hoping that he can stay fit for the rest of the campaign.

Calafiori's absence could also give Nuno Tavares another chance to impress. The Portuguese full-back has made a few appearances for Arsenal this season and has shown some promise. However, he is still a raw talent and will need time to develop.

Conclusion

Calafiori's injury is a blow for Arsenal and Italy. However, the Gunners have enough strength in depth to cope with his absence. Tierney and Tavares are both capable of playing at left-back and will be looking to impress in the coming weeks.