Ex-Arsenal winger Jermaine Pennant has drawn comparisons between Gunners defender Riccardo Calafiori and AC Milan legend Paolo Maldini.

Speaking to Safest Casino Sites, Pennant said he can see a likeness between the pair that goes beyond their similar hairstyles:

“I can definitely see the similarities between Riccardo Calafiori and Paolo Maldini. They’re both aggressive, enforcing defenders, and both have the long locks too! At the same time, both of them love getting forward and are good on the ball, so you can see the similarities between the pair and understand why people are reminded of him.”

“When you watch Calafiori play, he’s so difficult to get past – he’s a very good defender and has been really impressive since joining the club. That goal against Manchester City at the Etihad was simply special too. If I’m looking at the current crop of Italian players, I’d probably say Calafiori stands out as the ‘new era Maldini’!”

Calafiori has some way to go match Maldini and his achievements

It’s a big complement from Pennant and it remains to be seen whether the Arsenal player can live up to the praise.

During his career, Maldini secured 26 winners medals, including 7 Serie A titles and 5 European Cups/Champions Leagues. He also played an astonishing 902 career games for Milan, spanning across 25 years.

He has a chance to establish himself as Arsenal’s first-choice left-back

Jurrien Timber’s switch to right-back and the fact that Oleksandr Zinchenko is still struggling with a calf injury means Calafiori has been starting regularly on the left-hand side of defence in recent weeks.

The Italian had to wait patiently for opportunities after first arriving from Bologna but he seems to be gradually settling into life at the Emirates. If he can achieve even a fraction of what Maldini has done in his career, he will be regarded a success.

Find out who is in Arsenal’s first-team squad for the 2024/2025 season here