Arsenal star Riccardo Calafiori left the Italian national team due to load management rather than a specific injury | OneFootball

Sources close to Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori say his absence from international duty during the break was due to load management rather than a specific injury, according to The Athletic.

As a result, Arsenal are hopeful he will be available when they take on Tottenham Hotspur at Emirates Stadium on Sunday.

Gunners manager Mikel Arteta will be without Gabriel Magalhaes for the game as the Brazilian centre-back could be out of action until January after picking up an injury on international duty.

Arsenal have options that can step up in the absence of Gabriel, with either Cristhian Mosquera or Piero Hincapie able to replace him in the starting XI against Spurs.

Calafiori is also an option as he plays at centre-back for his country and was also used there during pre-season.

Gabriel was recuperating from hamstring surgery at the time and the Italian could be the one to replace him again.

However, Calafiori has started all 11 of Arsenal’s Premier League games at left-back and could retain his place against Spurs given his brilliant performances so far.

Having him available for the game will be huge, but the likes of Myles Lewis-Skelly and Hincapie can also feature at left-back and are available if needed.

Arteta has enough options at centre-back and left-back after Arsenal invested in defence in the summer, and his only headache will be who to choose to play alongside William Saliba on Sunday.

The Gunners have been dealt several injury blows all season, but their quality squad depth has pulled them through and they have little to worry about this time.

Being without Gabriel is a huge blow given his huge quality, but having Calafiori available this weekend is a much-needed boost and picking up all three points at the expense of Spurs will be great for their morale.