Arsenal Bolstered By Returns Of Calafiori And Nwaneri Ahead Of Champions League Clash

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Arsenal are set to face Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League with a boost from the return of Riccardo Calafiori and Ethan Nwaneri. The Gunners have secured victories in four out of six European matches this season, drawing against Atalanta and losing narrowly to Inter. Despite recent injuries, Arsenal's prospects remain strong, with a 98% chance of reaching the last 16 according to Opta predictions.

Mikel Arteta's squad has faced challenges due to injuries, notably Bukayo Saka's hamstring issue keeping him out for over two months. William Saliba also suffered a muscle injury during their recent win over Tottenham. However, Arteta is optimistic about Calafiori and Nwaneri's return, stating, "It's very positive news. We missed them for a few weeks, and they returned today for training. They will be available for the game."

The Opta supercomputer places Arsenal as third favourites to win the tournament, with a 13% chance behind Liverpool at 22% and Inter at 17%. Despite a challenging start to 2025, winning only one of their first five games across all competitions, Arsenal aims to capitalise on their current position. Arteta emphasised the importance of performing well against Dinamo Zagreb to secure a top-eight finish and avoid knockout-round play-offs.

Nwaneri has been impressive in his breakout season, scoring five goals in 18 appearances. Meanwhile, Italy international Calafiori has struggled with fitness since his £40 million move from Bologna. Arteta acknowledged Dinamo's potential threat as they seek a play-off spot, noting their individual talents that could pose challenges.

Following the match against Dinamo Zagreb, Arsenal will travel to Spain for their final group-stage game against Girona next week. Arteta highlighted the importance of maintaining momentum after months of hard work and using this period to reset and rest some players. "With the schedule that we had for the last three months, you can have a break and reset a little bit," he said.

Arteta remains focused on delivering strong performances against quality opponents like Dinamo Zagreb. He stated, "After the work that we have done for many months, we need a strong performance against a really good side." As Arsenal prepare for these crucial fixtures, they aim to build on their solid European campaign so far.