Martin Odegaard rates Arsenal signing Riccardo Calafiori after pre-season defeat to Liverpool

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard says ‘top player’ Riccardo Calafiori has made an immediate impression in pre-season training following his arrival from Bologna.

The Gunners put an end to weeks of speculation with official confirmation of Calafiori’s €50m (£42.1m) move earlier this week.

The Italy defender, who impressed at this summer’s European Championship, became Arsenal’s second addition of the summer transfer window after David Raya’s permanent switch from Brentford.

Calafiori’s versatility was a key factor in Arsenal’s pursuit and could prove hugely beneficial when it comes to squad rotation within Mikel Arteta’s squad next season, with the 22-year-old comfortable playing at both centre-back and left-back.

On Tuesday, Calafiori got straight to work at Pennsylvania’s Subaru Park, where Arsenal’s players had been putting in the hard yards ahead of their pre-season friendly with Premier League rivals Liverpool.

However, Arsenal fans will have to wait a little long to see Calafiori in action as the Italian was not named in Arteta’s squad for the 2-1 defeat, in which Mohamed Salah, Fabio Carvalho and Kai Havertz got on the scoresheet.

Asked what kind of impact Calafiori had made in the wake of the loss, Arsenal skipper Odegaard replied: ‘I think everyone saw straightaway in training that he’s a top player and a top defender, physically.

‘He has this presence on the pitch and I’m sure he’s going to give us a lot.

‘We’re happy to have him on board and I’m looking forward to seeing more from him.’

Odegaard says he is ‘very happy’ with Arsenal’s current squad and pays little attention to transfer rumours, with the club linked to a number of high-profile potential targets in recent weeks.

‘To be honest, I don’t focus too much on those things. It’s down to the club to decide all those things,’ the Norway international added.

‘I’m very happy with the squad we have at the moment and we’ll have some more players coming back at the end of the week so I’m looking forward to that.

‘We’re in a good moment and we just have to keep pushing and get ready for the season.’

Despite being ‘a bit disappointed’ by the defeat, Odegaard is positive about the progress the squad have made over the course of their pre-season campaign.

‘In general, it’s been a good tour. We’re gaining a lot of fitness and some good answers in the game,’ the midfielder continued.

‘I think it’s been good but obviously we wanted to win the game today so we’re a bit disappointed now, but it’s pre-season.

‘The main thing at the moment is to get ready but always when we play we want to win.

‘Whenever you lose you’re a bit disappointed but the most important thing at the moment is that we’re on getting sharper, getting more fit and getting ready for a big season.’

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