Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka has revealed how Gunners' hero Thierry Henry has been a figure of advice over the past 18 months after the heartbreak of Euro 2020. Saka missed the decisive spot-kick to hand Italy victory at Wembley in his first major international tournament 18 months ago.
The Gunners' forward has continued to improve since the miss against PSG's Gianluigi Donnarumma, becoming one of Mikel Arteta’s most influential players. Last season, he scored 12 goals and provided a further seven assists as Arsenal narrowly missed out on a Champions League place before taking his game up a gear this campaign.
Already, the 21-year-old has five goals and six assists after helping steer the north-Londoners to the top of the Premier League table. The Hale Ender has also showcased his reluctance to shy away from penalties with successful spot-kicks against Edouard Mendy, David De Gea and Alisson since Euro 2020.
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Saka is now a key member of Gareth Southgate's England squad at the World Cup and is their joint top-scorer alongside Marcus Rashford. The Three Lions face world champions France on Saturday and the Gunners forward has explained how France hero Henry reached out to him after the incident against Italy.
"Thierry called me [after Italy penalty miss]. He showed a lot of character to get my number and reach out to me," said Saka.
“After most Arsenal games, he reaches out to me and he is still passionate about the club. He is an amazing person. They still support me to this day. I am grateful to them.
“Of course, on the pitch, they were magnificent and won silverware for Arsenal. They are legends.”
Despite being at the club since the age of seven, Saka never had the opportunity to meet Arsenal's most successful manager, Arsene Wenger. The Frenchman left the Gunners in 2018, two years before Saka's breakthrough, and the forward admits he regrets never meeting him.
“One of my biggest regrets was that I haven’t met Arsene Wenger," he said at England's training base.
“I know how much my dad loves him, how much everyone at the club loves him.
“I know what he has done for the club, of course. We had so many other French players too like Thierry Henry and Robert Pires who have been around the club and helped me."
Vote for Bukayo Saka in the Fans' Footballer of the Year award below!
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