Arsenal forward Gabriel Martinelli has lavished praise on his teammate Riccardo Calafiori, calling the Italian defender a “crack” player—a term often used in Italian and Spanish football to describe someone of exceptional talent.
Martinelli’s compliment followed Arsenal’s 4-2 win over Leicester City, which further demonstrated Calafiori’s growing importance in Mikel Arteta’s squad.
Arsenal’s victory maintained their unbeaten start to the Premier League season, with the Gunners initially taking a 2-0 lead before Leicester briefly equalized.
However, Arsenal regained control late in the game, scoring twice more, including a goal in injury time, to secure the win and stay just one point behind league leaders Liverpool.
Calafiori, Arsenal’s most expensive signing from Bologna in the summer, has quickly become a key figure in Arteta’s lineup, starting two consecutive Premier League matches.
He played a crucial role in the Leicester win, building on his impressive form after scoring in Arsenal’s 2-2 draw against Manchester City the previous week.
After the Leicester match, Calafiori celebrated on Instagram, prompting Martinelli to respond by calling him a “crack,” a clear sign of admiration for his teammate’s skills and growing influence.
Martinelli’s recognition of Calafiori’s abilities highlights the defender’s rapid adaptation to the Premier League’s fast pace and physicality.
Despite being new to English football, Calafiori has already earned respect from his teammates and is fulfilling the high expectations that came with his transfer.
As Arsenal continues their strong start to the season, Calafiori’s contributions are expected to play a key role in the team’s pursuit of the Premier League title.
