Arsenal's Calafiori warned by ex-Tottenham midfielder: Now is the time to shine

Exclusive by Alessandro Schiavone

Michael Brown warned Riccardo Calafiori that the business end of the season will be the real acid test of his credentials.

The Italian has faced increased competition from Piero Hincapié at left-back this term and is wanted by Inter Milan in the event of Alessandro Bastoni joining Barcelona in the summer.

In an exclusive interview with Capital Football, the former Tottenham Hotspur and Fulham midfielder stressed the importance of 'Richy' going up a gear with the Premier League and Champions League trophies up for grabs now.

Brown said: "He'll be key one-v-one situations in tighter areas against wide players that are gonna really push him.

"When we talk about later stages of the Champions League against the top 4 or 5 and in the Premier League, that's when you're gonna be tested.

"When you haven't got as much ball, when you're put under much more pressure.

"And then we know he's gonna create going forward!

"In many games he's gonna get the chance to do that, drift inside and drift out into different positions."