{"id":16420,"date":"2026-05-04T00:26:29","date_gmt":"2026-05-04T00:26:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/16420\/"},"modified":"2026-05-04T00:26:29","modified_gmt":"2026-05-04T00:26:29","slug":"arsenal-star-riccardo-calafiori-sets-bukayo-saka-and-viktor-gyokeres-atletico-madrid-challenge","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/16420\/","title":{"rendered":"Arsenal star Riccardo Calafiori sets Bukayo Saka and Viktor Gyokeres Atletico Madrid challenge"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori believes Bukayo Saka and Viktor Gyokeres have more levels to climb between now and the end of the season<\/p>\n<p>17:00, 03 May 2026Updated 18:13, 03 May 2026<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Riccardo Calafiori\" loading=\"eager\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0_GettyImages-2273698391.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p aria-label=\"Riccardo Calafiori had a goal ruled out as Arsenal thrashed Fulham\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Riccardo Calafiori had a goal ruled out as Arsenal thrashed Fulham<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Riccardo Calafiori has fired a chilling warning to Atletico Madrid and Manchester City &#8211; by claiming Bukayo Saka and Viktor Gyokeres can still get even better.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Saka, making his first start since shaking off a problematic Achilles issue, registered a goal and an assist to cap a breathtaking 45-minute cameo in Saturday&#8217;s <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.football.london\/arsenal-fc\/fixtures-results\/arsenal-player-ratings-vs-fulham-33878772\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">3-0 crushing of Fulham<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Meanwhile, red-hot frontman Gyokeres took his tally to 21 goals in all competitions with a brace and in doing so, became the first <a aria-label=\"\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.football.london\/arsenal-fc\/\" rel=\"follow nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_self\">Gunners<\/a> player to reach the 20-goal mark in a season since Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in 2019\/20.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">However, Calafiori feels the pair, who both teed up one another, are just getting started.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE! <a aria-label=\"Latest Gunners news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook pageLink opens in a new tab.\" class=\"TextLink_text-link__dBSS0 TextLink_enabled__dJF3l\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/AFCFootball.London#\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" tabindex=\"0\" target=\"_blank\">Latest Gunners news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page<\/a><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">The Italian full-back, who hit the crossbar and also had a goal ruled out for offside, said of Saka: &#8220;You&#8217;ve seen what he did and I still think he still needs to find his form back again. But he&#8217;s an unbelievable player and as I&#8217;ve said before, we want everyone available.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">When asked if Saka has the quality to fire Arsenal over the line this term, Calafiori added: &#8220;He&#8217;s one of our best players and he&#8217;s going to help us a lot, I&#8217;m pretty confident about that.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">In the view of Calafiori, the presence of Gyokeres makes Mikel Arteta&#8217;s Premier League leaders a better side &#8211; even if the Swede has not been short of criticism during his debut campaign at the Emirates.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He continued: &#8220;I really like him. I think he changes the whole game when he plays. Even if he doesn&#8217;t touch the ball, it changes a lot for us. He&#8217;s doing really well. Obviously, when you&#8217;re a striker you want to score.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;When you score you&#8217;re even more confident about yourself. He&#8217;s on a good level but again, he can do even more.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Viktor Gyokeres scored twice as Arsenal smashed Fulham in the Premier League\" loading=\"lazy\"  src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/0_Viktor-Gyokeres-and-Arsenal.jpg\" \/><\/p>\n<p aria-label=\"Bukayo Saka and Viktor Gyokeres both impressed for Arsenal on Saturday\" class=\"ImageCaption_caption-title__ccyQU\" data-testid=\"caption-title\">Bukayo Saka and Viktor Gyokeres both impressed for Arsenal on Saturday(Image: Stuart MacFarlane\/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">A maximum of five matches now stand between Arsenal and immortality. Attention now turns back to the Champions League and Atletico Madrid are striving to upset the apple cart in Tuesday&#8217;s crunch semi-final second leg.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Calafiori wants to make home advantage count following last Wednesday&#8217;s thunderous atmosphere at the Metropolitano.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He explained: &#8220;Obviously it&#8217;s a semi-final of the Champions League, so the level is going to be unbelievable and we have to use the fact that we&#8217;re playing at home. If the atmosphere is like today, then we&#8217;ll see.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;It&#8217;s a huge moment and Fulham was good for our confidence, I really liked the performance as well by everyone.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">&#8220;The crowd was good, the atmosphere was unbelievable. Yes, it&#8217;s a clear message and we have to think step-by-step because, of course, Tuesday we have a massive, massive game and we are focusing on this game as well.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Before Arsenal trade blows with Diego Simeone&#8217;s side again, they will learn whether the Premier League title race is back in their hands as Manchester City travel to Everton this evening.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Arteta makes no secret of the fact he&#8217;ll be huddled around a TV at the team hotel but Calafiori is reluctant to commit to watching tonight&#8217;s contest.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">He declared: &#8220;I don&#8217;t know. As I say, I&#8217;m just focusing on Tuesday because it&#8217;s too important for us.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Arsenal are currently six points clear of City, who have two games in hand but the Gunners do not leave London in their final three matches.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">They travel to West Ham on Sunday before hosting Burnley and heading to Crystal Palace on the final day.<\/p>\n<p>Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package<\/p>\n<p>This article contains affiliate links, we will receive a commission on any sales we generate from it. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.football.london\/affiliates\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Learn more<\/a><img decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Content Image\" fetchpriority=\"auto\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1776518874_317_0_Sky-Factbox.jpg\"\/><\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.<\/p>\n<p class=\"Paragraph_paragraph-text__PVKlh \" data-tmdatatrack=\"content-unit\" data-tmdatatrack-type=\"paragraph\">Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori believes Bukayo Saka and Viktor Gyokeres have more levels to climb between now and&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":16421,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[1757,7414,82,7703,3116,7412],"class_list":{"0":"post-16420","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-madrid","8":"tag-atletico","9":"tag-bukayo-saka","10":"tag-madrid","11":"tag-premier-league-title-race","12":"tag-riccardo-calafiori","13":"tag-viktor-gyokeres"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16420","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16420"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16420\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/16421"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16420"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16420"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/spain\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16420"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}