Riccardo Calafiori Named in Arsenal XI for Chelsea Derby

Riccardo Calafiori’s flying start to the season has earned him another high-profile stage, with Mikel Arteta naming the Italy international in Arsenal’s XI for Sunday’s London derby against Chelsea.

The defender, shortlisted for the Premier League’s August Player of the Month award, has exploded out of the blocks this campaign. He has an assist in each of Arsenal’s opening two matches as reigning champions, and his influence has stretched far beyond simple numbers.

Arteta stations him nominally on the left of the back four, but that’s only the starting point. Once the whistle goes, Calafiori roams higher, stepping into midfield and joining attacks, a key part of Arsenal’s fluid shape and their attempts to pin opponents deep.

Across the city, Chelsea’s Italian option misses out. Marco Palestra remains sidelined with a minor fitness issue and plays no part in the derby, leaving the visitors without their own Azzurri presence on the pitch.

Calafiori’s importance was clear in Arsenal’s last home outing. On August 21 at the Emirates Stadium, he was in the thick of the action as Kai Havertz struck the opener in the Premier League 2026/27 clash, the pair celebrating together in front of a jubilant crowd. That connection now gets another chance to flourish, this time with Chelsea on the other side of the halfway line.