Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori has identified Bukayo Saka and Martin Ødegaard as players opponents dread facing after the Gunners secured a commanding 3-0 victory against Nottingham Forest. The win marked a return to form for Mikel Arteta’s side following the international break, with the duo orchestrating a fluid and dominant performance.
The Italian international, making his first appearance in over a month due to a knee injury, stepped into a reshuffled backline alongside Ben White, who is also facing a similar time out with an injury. The defensive unit excelled, keeping a clean sheet and limiting Forest to zero shots on target.
Saka opened the scoring in the 15th minute, receiving a well-weighted pass from Ødegaard before blasting a shot past Forest goalkeeper Sels. Second-half substitute Thomas Partey doubled the lead, while academy star Ethan Nwaneri sealed the win with a historic goal. The teenager became Arsenal’s second-youngest Premier League scorer, trailing only Cesc Fàbregas.
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After the game, Calafiori praised Saka and Ødegaard for their impact. “When they play like this, opponents hate them,” the 22-year-old said. “And we love them as well!”
Martin Odegaasrd and Bukayo Saka (Image credit: Getty Images)
Reflecting on his return, Calafiori expressed gratitude for the support within the team, which he believes helps players slot seamlessly into the system. “Everything is made for us to play in the same way, and everyone helped me a lot. The environment is amazing – it feels like I’ve never been out,” he said.
Riccardo Calafiori last featured in Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth, missing six subsequent games. Despite a brief 67-minute outing against Forest, he already feels ready to contribute more as the schedule intensifies.
“I don’t feel tired, but I did notice I missed some games. Still, the fans and my teammates gave me so much energy,” Calafiori said. “We have a demanding period ahead, and we’re ready to win most of the games. From now until March, there’ll be no rest, but I’m excited to show what I can do and help the team.”
Arsenal will look to build on the victory over Nottingham Forest when they travel to Portugal to face Sporting Lisbon in the Champions League on Tuesday.
