Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed Riccardo Calafiori will miss Tuesday’s Champions League semi-final first leg showdown against Paris Saint-Germain.
Calafiori has not made an Arsenal matchday squad since the 1-0 win over Chelsea before the March international break as he suffered a knee injury whilst representing Italy in their Nations League quarter-final defeat to Germany.
Having sat out Premier League games against Fulham, Everton, Brentford, Ipswich and Crystal Palace as well as the Champions League quarter-final win over Real Madrid, there was hope the Italian would make his return against PSG.
Speaking earlier in the month, Arteta said: “If everything goes well, I think so - maybe a little bit earlier.
“Let’s see. He is on the pitch already.
“He is doing quite a lot of stuff and we just need to make the right steps now to make sure when he is back, he is in a good place to perform.”
However, after Calafiori was not present for training on Monday afternoon, Arteta - speaking in the pre-match press conference - said: “Riccardo Calafiori is still not fit."
Thomas Partey is another key absentee for the PSG clash as he misses out through suspension.
Meanwhile, Arteta has also delivered the latest on Mikel Merino and Ben White who are in contention to return to the squad after missing the draw with Crystal Palace last week.
"We know that we lost Thomas unfortunately very late in the game against Real Madrid,” he added. “Ben White and Mikel Merino were able to train and we will see if they are able to start tomorrow.”
