"Awkward Situation Unfolds: Arteta Addresses Riccardo Calafiori's Injury After Arsenal's Match Against Brighton"

ARSENAL boss Mikel Arteta said Riccardo Calafiori was forced to pull out of their win over Brighton after feeling “something very awkward” in training.

The Italian defender was a late withdrawal from the Gunners’ starting XI as replaced him at left-back for .

Riccardo Calafiori pulled out of their win over Brighton after “feeling something awkward”Credit: Getty Arteta said Calafiori felt ‘uncomfortable’ in the warm-up and will be left sweating amid his injury crisisCredit: Getty

The 23-year-old has been one of ‘s standout players this season in their bid to win the Premier League title.

But Arsenal are bracing for a spell without their key full-back as Arteta explained that he felt uncomfortable while warming up for the game.

Arteta told the media: “It’s something that he felt yesterday, something very awkward that happened, and today in the warm-up he wasn’t comfortable.”

, who has started all but two of Arsenal’s Premier League games this season, does have a history of being injury prone.

Only last month he gave Arsenal a scare after .

And last season he missed a succession of games after struggling with a niggling knee issue.

It adds to Arsenal’s injury worries after losing Jurrien Timber in their win over this week.

And they are still missing , Crisitian Mosquera, and .

Arsenal’s latest setbacks forced Arteta into a reshuffle in defence, with filling in as a make-shift right back.

The Spaniard praised Arsenal’s “incredible” attitude in the face of their fitness woes and ability to adapt.

He said: “What I like is that we have a lot of issues, we’re dealing with it in an incredible way, yesterday we lost Jurrien, today we lost Calafiori in the warm-up.

“Declan has to play as a full-back and you see the performance that he put in, so that’s the spirit and that’s how much our players want it.

“You speak to Declan and tell him he needs to play there as a right winger, and he said, ‘Okay, I’m up for a challenge, I’m going to do my best’. And the attitude is great to witness.”

Calafiori joined Arsenal from Bologna in a £42million deal and has made 49 appearances in total.

Like Rice, he was forced to adapt his position in the win over Crystal Palace after being deployed as a centre-back.

And his versatility earned plaudits from and said he had a “great mindset” along with Gabriel.

The Spaniard said: “Well, he’s done that (played at centre-back). What he didn’t do before is play as a full-back.

“So, we bought him as well, because we believed that he could do both of them. Those stats are really important, especially if they’re still aggressive to win the ball. I don’t want players just going backwards as they don’t want to be dribbled [past].

“So those two (Calafiori and Gabriel) have a great mindset. Richy’s availability has been really good this season as well, and I think tonight he has played a really good game.”