Mikel Arteta praised Bukayo Saka’s “character and courage” after the Arsenal winger put his Euros shoot-out nightmare behind him.
Saka helped reignite Arsenal’s top four hopes as he converted an injury time penalty as he took a spot kick for the first time since his heartbreaking miss in the Euros final last summer. Gunners boss Arteta was preparing to send on Alexandre Lacazette to take the penalty but Saka grabbed the ball after he had been fouled by Chelsea defender Cesar Azpilicueta.
Arteta said: “When I saw Bukayo was going to take it, my first thought was to him back in the summer and what happened. But again, as I said before, when that happened to Bukayo it happened for a reason and he learned so much and matured so much which is why he’s having the season he’s having.
