lorddulaarsenal I think he’ll play centreback in the long term - initially may play left back but I think that’s earmarked for JT
Maybe after we sell Saliba to Madrid.
Calafiorication
lorddulaarsenal you said last summer that Kiwior would take Gabriel's place over the season.
Tet did specifically mention Saliba playing every PL minute last season as part of the reasons he wanted to sign Calafiori. Still think he'll play mainly at LB mind
Qwiss he was definitely threatening to but Mikel wanted to field 4 giants across the back so that’s how he incorporated Kiwior
God bless Mikel - the coldest can in the fridge 
Big Willie Dules is gonna push this barrow with Big Gabi until he's out the door.
Burnwinter have lightened the load now the Smith Rowe barrow has been passed to a new owner to be fair
lorddulaarsenal Let's not forget the Martinelli barrow. You need some kind of multi-barrow pusher device for efficiency
Dules must be Arteta's player guru. Trying to push out all my favourite players one by one.
Watching some of the interviews, this guy is buzzing. He wants to be here and is ready to go. It's very exciting to see him so excited. Hope he's a homerun signing
Excited to see this fella in action soon, our fans will be frothing if he does anything notable on the ball in preseason.
Burnwinter I’m just buzzing to see an end to this LB trouble.
Also great to see timber cutting his teeth at centre back. Gives us options to rest Saliba who played every minute in the league.
- Edited
his numbers are pretty sick. loving the look of those interception, passing, dribbling and crossing stats
maybe if we also get merino to tuck in at LCM, the explosion in dynamism could offset rices basic passing game at 6. a calafiori + merino left channel will also rejuvenate martinelli, I'm sure of it.
if we can get our left side to be as dynamic as our right side, we're in business
Claudius I’m just buzzing to see an end to this LB trouble.
The bizarre four player fuckup that led to us conceding versus Bayern exemplifies what I hope we won't see after this.
This guy is a superb signing. Very happy with this. Always dream of having an Italian defender at Arsenal, not to mention such a chiselled one.
12 days later
Who was the last Arsenal signing who started their career on the bench in order to "acclimatize" them that actually ended up being good? I could be forgetting someone but the only people who started on the bench to "acclimatize" them recently that I can remember were Elneny, Xhaka and Pepe. In each case, the whole acclimatization thing ended up being really foreshadowing.
I think that's an oversimplification. He hasnt had much pre-season or training with the first team. Im sure he will not be on the bench for long.
It's good to ease him in if it means avoiding another Timber scenario.
I reckon Calafiori's profile's a slight risk, but probably an okay one. He's seemingly an excellent rather than "generational" talent who's never played in a league this fast and robust. Hope to see him for a half hour today.
Saliba, Raya?
I’d imagine you much more likely to see more of it going forward. You don’t have players coming into a teams that finished 5th-8th anymore.
goon Saliba, Raya?
Raya is actually a decent shout. I wouldn't count Saliba because he was bought as a prospect which I think is quite meaningfully different.