Riccardo Calafiori said he cannot wait for the remainder of the season as we continue to compete on all fronts, starting with our Champions League round of 16 second leg against Bayer Leverkusen.
The Italian was a crucial part in helping us keep our latest clean sheet against Everton at Emirates Stadium, but Richy is now fully focused on the next game as we look to defeat the German side in N5.
Victory would see us advance to the last eight and Calafiori is excited to be still competing as we reach the final months of the campaign.
He said: “I think especially now, from March on to the next few months, it’s the best part of the season as well.
“You started so early in the pre-season and then you work so hard to get to this point, to be in the competition and to be so close to winning. I think it’s a dream to be here.”
Cala has been part of a rock-solid defensive unit, encapsulated by his heroic block against Everton.
Read more
Arteta’s updates on Odegaard, Trossard and Timber
The Italian flung his legs in the air to deny Dwight McNeil a certain goal for the Toffees on Saturday.
Competition for places has never been higher, and Richy gave us an insight into just how strong the relationship is amongst the group.
He said: “I think we’re all friends. I love them and I have a good relationship with them.
“We are friends, first of all. Obviously, then on the pitch you try to compete to get ahead of them, but we’re all friends, and they’re all really good players, I think.
“Obviously, we love to chat in the dressing room. We love to help each other and when it’s time to go aggressive on the pitch or sometimes just be more chill, just to help your team-mate or the team at the end. Obviously, sometimes we see each other off the pitch and I think that’s important.”
Copyright 2026 The Arsenal Football Club Limited. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source.
