'Ricardo Calafiori is a real defender unlike Oleksandr Zinchenko': Former Arsenal defender makes BRUTAL assessment on Ukrainian - and even aims a dig at David Raya

Riccardo Calafiori of Italy during the UEFA EURO 2024 group stage match between Croatia and Italy at Football Stadium Leipzig on June 24, 2024 in Leipzig, Germany. Arsenal
Calafiori looks set to join Arsenal this summer (Image credit: James Baylis - AMA/Getty Images)

Former Arsenal defender William Gallas has taken aim at a number different Gunners players ahead of the expected arrival of Riccardo Calafiori.

The North London outfit look set to welcome the Italian defender as their first signing of the summer after narrowly missing out on the Premier League title in a final day showdown last season.

The Gunners appear to be on the precipice of success under Mikel Arteta, who is yet to win another trophy since the 2020 FA Cup, although Gallas believes a number of players may still be holding them back.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta, May 2024

Mikel Arteta was within touching distance of the title last season (Image credit: Alamy)

Former Arsenal defender takes aim

With Calafiori's official announcement now seemingly a matter of when not if, Gallas welcomed the Italian's arrival, describing how he would be a major upgrade on Oleksandr Zinchenko.

"I think Arsenal’s football has moved on from what Zinchenko offers them," Gallas told Gambling Zone.

"Football is a game that constantly evolves, and it is changing again at the moment in terms of how the best teams try and defend."

Oleksandr Zinchenko of Arsenal in action during the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Brighton & Hove Albion at Emirates Stadium on December 17, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)

Zinchenko could soon see his game time limited (Image credit: Getty Images)

He continued: "Over the last few years, we’ve seen teams ask their left backs and right backs to go into midfield and build play from the back. We’ve seen back fours become back threes with the ball – a defender's role has changed a lot, but now the focus seems to be on doing what they are there to do: defending very well and being strong. 

"There is a trend moving towards a much more solid back four. There are a lot of reasons for that, but fundamentally, it’s about being stronger than your opponent and limiting the number of chances on your goal. Football is changing. We’re in a period that was made for real defenders."

William Gallas of Arsenal gestures during the UEFA Champions League Quarter Final 1st leg match between Arsenal and Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium on April 2, 2008 in London, England. (Photo by Jamie McDonald/Getty Images)

Gallas had a controversial spell at the Emirates during his playing career (Image credit: Getty Images)

Gallas then hinted that David Raya should still be questioned despite his fantastic debut season at the Emirates.

"Listen, if you’re a goalkeeper and you can play behind a strong defence then you can win a title," the Frenchman explained. 

"David Raya is playing with a great defence in front of him. That means that most teams that play Arsenal will have only a few chances to score in each match, so in those few situations, you need your goalkeeper to be amazing."

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James Ridge is a freelance journalist based in the UK. He recently spent time with The United Stand as an online news editor and has covered the beautiful game from England’s eighth tier all the way to the Premier League.