After everything Riccardo Calafiori has been through over the past couple of weeks, Tuesday night was exactly what he needed. The Italy defender was still buzzing from Kai Havertz’s late winning goal against Sporting in the first leg of Arsenal’s Champions League quarter-final when he reflected on a fortnight during which his club suffered successive defeats either side of the Azzurri failing to qualify for the World Cup again.

“It’s been tough, but that is the beauty of football: it is 100% better now,” Calafiori said, before reflecting first on Saturday’s shock FA Cup loss at Southampton, then on the wider pain of the period. “This chance to play three days later rather than just stay home and think about it [was welcome]. Of course I’m really disappointed, but I’ve got a lot to play for with Arsenal.”

Asked whether Italy missing out on the World Cup for the third time in a row had given him more desire to succeed at club level, he said: “Maybe in a way, yes. But I’m still really disappointed and sad.”

As Sporting pushed hard towards the end at a lively Estádio José Alvalade, the prospect of Calafiori being on the losing...