Calafiori strengthens league’s best defence

The Scout supplies evaluation of the gamers added to Fantasy Premier League.

Riccardo Calafiori (ARS) £6.0m DEF

The arrival of Calafiori appears set to additional strengthen Arsenal’s prospects at each ends of the pitch in 2024/25 Fantasy.

The Gunners boasted the very best defensive report within the league final season, gathering 18 clear sheets – 5 greater than another facet.

That resilience was mirrored within the defender standings in 2023/24 Fantasy, with Ben White (£6.5m), William Saliba and Gabriel (each £6.0m) occupying the highest three locations.

With Calafiori anticipated to turn into a part of Mikel Arteta’s first-choice again 4, it’s no shock to see him priced at £6.0m.

The place will he play?

Calafiori was an enormous success in his remaining season at Bologna final marketing campaign, scoring twice and supplying 5 assists in 30 Serie A outings.

Though he performed as a centre-back for the Italian facet, the versatile 22-year-old is predicted to safe the inverted left-back position below Arteta in 2024/25.

This could enable Calafiori to maneuver into midfield when Arsenal are in possession, with Saliba and Gabriel remaining central and White pushing ahead from his position on the best.

Definitely, a fast look on the minutes performed by every Arsenal defender final season signifies Calafiori arrives to deal with the left-back place. Saliba began all 38 matches, whereas White and Gabriel made 35 and 34 begins respectively and look like settled picks below Arteta. 

Calafiori’s aerial dominance is one other massive issue right here. He gained 71 per cent of the headed duels he contested final season, greater than any Arsenal defender.

This might show essential in the case of free-kicks and corners within the marketing campaign forward.

Arsenal scored a league-high 22 targets from set-pieces final season, whereas their 16 targets from corners have been additionally greater than another facet.

Though Gabriel – because the left-sided centre-back – is extra vulnerable to shedding his place to Calafiori than Saliba, the Brazilian’s large menace in such conditions reveals why he’s more likely to stay an important asset for Arteta’s group in 2024/25.

Gabriel produced 28 photographs from set-pieces final marketing campaign, no less than 20 greater than another Arsenal defender. 

Arsenal defenders’ set-piece menace 2023/24

Calafiori not solely has the aerial capacity to make the Gunners much more harmful in these conditions, his versatility and skillset additionally makes him a tailored answer for Arteta at left-back.

Different additions to Fantasy

Calafiori is one among two gamers who’ve been added to Fantasy on Tuesday, with Fulham signing Ryan Sessegnon additionally coming into the sport as a £4.5m defender.

In whole, 12 gamers have been added since 2024/25 FPL went dwell earlier this month.

All additions to 2024/25 Fantasy

Additionally on this collection