Mikel Arteta must unleash £42m Arsenal star in new role vs Sporting CP after Gabriel injury blow

Arsenal suffered a disappointing 2-1 loss to Southampton in the FA Cup quarter-final on Saturday.

The Gunners had the opportunity to return to winning ways against the Saints at St Mary’s, but failed to do so after a lacklustre defensive performance.

In the same game, Gabriel Magalhaes asked to be substituted due to an apparent knee injury. He was replaced by William Saliba in the 72nd minute.

Speaking in the post-match presser, manager Mikel Arteta said that the Brazilian ‘felt something’ and it is ‘never good news’ when a player asks to come off.

The Gunners face Sporting CP in the first leg of the Champions League quarter-final on Tuesday night.

With the short turnaround time, it is uncertain whether Gabriel will be deemed fit for the encounter.

In case he is sidelined, Arteta must unleash Riccardo Calafiori in a new role against the Portuguese champions.

Calafiori has primarily played as a left-back this season. The Italian was almost ever-present in the position during the first half of the season.

An untimely knee injury in December drastically reduced his playing time, with Piero Hincapie becoming an undisputed starter in the left-back role.

Hincapie is currently on the sidelines with a hamstring injury, but Calafiori should still start as a central defender alongside Saliba in Lisbon.

Arteta has generally preferred a right and left-footed partnership in the heart of the defence.

With Gabriel doubtful, Calafiori would seamlessly fit in the left central defensive position. He is a natural for the role, being left-footed.

Cristhian Mosquera is the other solution for the manager, but the Spaniard had a very nervous outing against the Saints on the road.

Mosquera made a couple of high-profile errors at St Mary’s, and his performance did not exude much confidence over 90 minutes.

Hence, Calafiori appears the perfect candidate to partner Saliba in central defence.

He was previously a specialist centre-back at Bologna, but has barely occupied the position for the Gunners during the ongoing campaign.

The £42 million signing has made only three starts in the role for Arsenal this term and should earn his fourth in the midweek European clash.

If Gabriel is deemed fit to play, Calafiori should still make the XI from the left-back spot ahead of an underperforming Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Stats from Transfermarkt.com & Sofascore.com

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