Riccardo Calafiori scored his first goal for the Italy national team after coming on as a second-half substitute against Turkiye. The Arsenal defender dedicated the goal to Bologna, his former club.The match was played at Bologna’s stadium, which was Calafiori’s home ground before he moved to the Emirates. It was a remarkable coincidence, particularly because he also made his Italy debut at the same venue.Bologna took a chance on Calafiori when he was playing for Basel in Switzerland. The defender had joined Basel from AS Roma, and his move to Bologna proved to be a major turning point in his career.Under Thiago Motta, Calafiori developed into one of the best ball carrying defenders in Europe. His progress convinced Arsenal that they had to sign him.Calafiori enjoys emotional returnCalafiori has performed superbly since joining Arsenal and is also an important player for Italy. The national team is undergoing a significant revival under Roberto Mancini, with the defender becoming a key part of the renewal.His goal against Turkiye was especially meaningful because of his connection with Bologna and its supporters. Speaking via Football Italia, Calafiori said:“It was all written in the stars, as I made my debut here, scored my first goal, I owe a lot to this city and these fans. I wanted to repay them, it was emotional. I hadn’t felt a game like this in my stomach for a long time, it really hit me, I was very emotional.”Calafiori playing for ItalyArsenal defender leads revivalCalafiori’s development at Bologna laid the foundation for his move to Arsenal and his growing importance to Italy. His ability to carry the ball out of defence has made him a valuable player at both club and international level.The defender’s first international goal also offered another indication of his attacking quality. He arrived at the back post and finished the opportunity to restore Italy’s lead during the match.For Calafiori, scoring in Bologna made the achievement even more special. The city and its supporters played an important role in his career, and he was delighted to repay them with a memorable goal for Italy._____________________________________________________________________________________________ADMIN COMMENTSo here are some simple rules which I must insist commenters follow….You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.CALLING ALL ARSENAL FANS! Anyone who would like to contribute an Article or Video opinion piece on JustArsenal, don’t hesitate to get in touch with us through this link…More Stories / Latest NewsArsenal star scores and dedicates goal to his former club6 October 2026, 17:00Barcelona opens door to cash in on Arsenal target6 October 2026, 16:00Arsenal interested in young Fulham attacker6 October 2026, 15:00The post Arsenal star scores and dedicates goal to his former club appeared first on Just Arsenal News.