Riccardo Calafiori, Arsenal’s Italian defender, vividly described the jubilant scenes in the dressing room following the club’s historic Premier League triumph. The 24-year-old defender, who made 26 appearances this season, admitted that Manchester City’s 1-1 draw at Bournemouth triggered an immediate outburst of emotion, ending a 22-year wait for a domestic title.
From childhood dream to reality
Calafiori reflected on the significance of Arsenal’s Premier League victory, just days before the club’s Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain. The Gunners were crowned champions on May 19, with City’s draw securing a seven-point lead ahead of the final matchday. Calafiori lifted the trophy alongside his teammates after a 2-1 win over Crystal Palace, capping off an unforgettable season.
The defining moment in the locker room
The versatile defender recounted the exact moment the team realized they had clinched the title. In a candid interview, he shared, “Winning the Premier League was a childhood dream. The season’s journey made it even more incredible.”
He continued, “The most powerful moment? The final whistle in the Bournemouth-Manchester City game. Everyone erupted with joy—staff and players celebrated as if a weight had been lifted. This title had eluded us for 22 years. Walking through the city afterward, I truly grasped how much this triumph meant to the fans and the community.”
Adapting to the demands of English football
Calafiori also spoke about his seamless integration into English football under manager Mikel Arteta. “At the start of the season, I noticed the trust he placed in me. It wasn’t something I expected,” he said. “I came here to step out of my comfort zone. The adaptation wasn’t easy—the Premier League is a physically demanding league. But I’d recommend the experience to young Italian players.”
Mikel arteta’s leadership praised
The defender attributed the team’s strong cohesion to Arteta’s patient, long-term strategy and the club’s disciplined workload management. Arsenal appointed Arteta in 2019, and after years of near-misses, the club finally secured the title this season. Comparing Serie A to the Premier League, Calafiori noted, “In Italy, it’s unthinkable to give an underperforming manager time to turn things around.”
He added, “The cohesion at Arsenal is down to Arteta and the club’s patience. I’d never spent two seasons at the same club before. When I arrived, I was exhausted and thought, ‘I’ll never play here.’ The difference is the weekly schedule and workload. We play around 60 matches a year, so training focuses on recovery. The goal is to be at our best for every game—it’s all about mentality.”
A european final to cap an unforgettable year
As Arsenal prepares for the Champions League final in Budapest against PSG, Calafiori will be the only Italian representative in the showpiece event. “I’ll have the chance to wear my country’s colors and chase this trophy,” he said. “Previously, I played Champions League finals on PlayStation with my best friend, Nicolo Cesaroni, who’ll be in the stadium to watch me. For now, I’m staying calm. I’ll probably realize the magnitude when I board the plane. An opportunity like this comes once in a lifetime—we have to seize it.”
