Jamie Carragher claimed Arsenal defender Riccardo Calafiori is "the best left-back in the league by far".

Calafiori has made a strong start to the season, scoring in Arsenal's Community Shield win over Manchester City while also providing two assists in three Premier League games.

The Italy international did not directly contribute to a goal in the Gunners' 2-1 win over Chelsea, though he played a role in Martin Odegaard's winner and did see a goal ruled out for offside.

Mikel Arteta's side have made a perfect start to the season, with a trip to Napoli in their Champions League opener up next.

And Carragher believes Calafiori's performance against Chelsea proved why he is the best in his position in the Premier League.

"He's the best left-back in the league by far," Carragher said on Sky Sports.

"He dictated the formation of Chelsea. Wherever Calafiori was, Neto was. When Calafiori drops forward, Neto drops into make a back five.

"Chelsea were flittering between a back four in the main and a back five. It's all about the positioning of Calafiori.

"You see the space between the centre-backs [for Arsenal's second goal v Chelsea], that comes from Calafiori. This is the impact he's having on games at left-back."

Despite making it all the way to the 2026 Champions League final and playing 15 games, Arsenal conceded the fewest goals of any team in the 2025-26 season (seven). Their xG faced per game was just 0.9, also the lowest total of any side.

This will be the fifth meeting between Napoli and Arsenal, and first since the 2018-19 Europa League quarter-finals. The Gunners have won three of the previous four (L1), keeping a clean sheet in all three victories.

Arsenal have only won on one of their last six away trips to face Italian sides in the Champions League (D1 L4), failing to score in five of those. That one victory did come earlier this year, however, in a 3-1 win at Inter in January.