Arsenal’s striker situation has been a major challenge for Mikel Arteta and his remaining fit players, with the club suffering the loss of both natural centre-forwards and their starting wide players. In response, Arteta has experimented with two different options.
Leandro Trossard was replaced by Mikel Merino at Leicester, coming on to score twice. However, when starting the next two league matches, he struggled to make an impact. He did find the net in Arsenal’s 7-1 victory over PSV, capitalizing on one of several defensive errors by the opposition.
The final goal of that game, however, stood out. Martin Ødegaard delivered a beautifully weighted pass to a perfectly timed run. The player, appearing more like a natural forward in the moment, outpaced his defender and slotted a precise finish off the far post with his weaker right foot, past PSV’s goalkeeper Walter Benítez.
That unlikely goal scorer was Riccardo Calafiori—perhaps a surprise to some, but those familiar with his performances this season may not have been as shocked. The former Bologna defender has already made an impression, scoring against Manchester City and Wolves with outstanding strikes and nearly netting a winner against Nottingham Forest. Now, the question arises: should Arsenal’s £42 million summer signing be considered for a more advanced role?
After the match, I asked Mikel Arteta whether such a moment could influence his thinking about a player’s position. He was quick to highlight the number of players currently operating in unconventional roles, not just Calafiori.
“Well, there were a few players today,” Arteta said. “We had them ready to take initiative. At this stage, you really have to love the game, take risks, and go for it. Today, we had a full-back in Myles putting in a cross for the opposite winger, Jurrien scoring a header as a full-back, and Ricci making a run like a number nine before finishing with his right foot. That’s what I mean by flow, courage, and playing the way we want to play.”
While it’s unlikely that Calafiori will start as a striker against Manchester United on Sunday, the return leg against PSV could be the perfect opportunity for Arteta to take a gamble and see what happens.