Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori believes Bukayo Saka and Viktor Gyokeres have more levels to climb between now and the end of the season
Riccardo Calafiori has fired a chilling warning to Atletico Madrid and Manchester City – by claiming Bukayo Saka and Viktor Gyokeres can still get even better.
Saka, making his first start since shaking off a problematic Achilles issue, registered a goal and an assist to cap a breathtaking 45-minute cameo in Saturday’s 3-0 crushing of Fulham.
Meanwhile, red-hot frontman Gyokeres took his tally to 21 goals in all competitions with a brace and in doing so, became the first Gunners player to reach the 20-goal mark in a season since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in 2019/20.
However, Calafiori feels the pair, who both teed up one another, are just getting started.
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The Italian full-back, who hit the crossbar and also had a goal ruled out for offside, said of Saka: “You’ve seen what he did and I still think he still needs to find his form back again. But he’s an unbelievable player and as I’ve said before, we want everyone available.”
When asked if Saka has the quality to fire Arsenal over the line this term, Calafiori added: “He’s one of our best players and he’s going to help us a lot, I’m pretty confident about that.”
In the view of Calafiori, the presence of Gyokeres makes Mikel Arteta’s Premier League leaders a better side – even if the Swede has not been short of criticism during his debut campaign at the Emirates.
He continued: “I really like him. I think he changes the whole game when he plays. Even if he doesn’t touch the ball, it changes a lot for us. He’s doing really well. Obviously, when you’re a striker you want to score.
When you score you’re even more confident about yourself. He’s on a good level but again, he can do even more.”
A maximum of five matches now stand between Arsenal and immortality. Attention now turns back to the Champions League and Atletico Madrid are striving to upset the apple cart in Tuesday’s crunch semi-final second leg.
Calafiori wants to make home advantage count following last Wednesday’s thunderous atmosphere at the Metropolitano.
He explained: “Obviously it’s a semi-final of the Champions League, so the level is going to be unbelievable and we have to use the fact that we’re playing at home. If the atmosphere is like today, then we’ll see.
“It’s a huge moment and Fulham was good for our confidence, I really liked the performance as well by everyone.
“The crowd was good, the atmosphere was unbelievable. Yes, it’s a clear message and we have to think step-by-step because, of course, Tuesday we have a massive, massive game and we are focusing on this game as well.”
Before Arsenal trade blows with Diego Simeone’s side again, they will learn whether the Premier League title race is back in their hands as Manchester City travel to Everton this evening.
Arteta makes no secret of the fact he’ll be huddled around a TV at the team hotel but Calafiori is reluctant to commit to watching tonight’s contest.
He declared: “I don’t know. As I say, I’m just focusing on Tuesday because it’s too important for us.”
Arsenal are currently six points clear of City, who have two games in hand but the Gunners do not leave London in their final three matches.
They travel to West Ham on Sunday before hosting Burnley and heading to Crystal Palace on the final day.
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