Mikel Arteta has confirmed to Sky Sports he has spoken with Bukayo Saka and backed the Arsenal winger to bounce back from his missed penalty heartache for England at Euro 2020.
Arteta believes Saka’s ‘strong character’ will see the forward overcome the tidal wave of abuse that he has been subjected to since Sunday’s final loss to Italy. The abuse has been widely condemned, including by Gareth Southgate and UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Saka, plus Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho, who also missed penalties, saw their social media profiles instantly flooded with abuse, which the FA labelled as ‘disgusting behaviour’.
Saka stepped up to take England’s fifth penalty to send the shoot-out to sudden death, but Italy ace Gianluigi Donnarumma saved the Arsenal talent’s attempt to win Euro 2020. Arteta believes Saka will know heartache will come in his career, but backs him to bounce back.
“Yes, I have. We all have, I think, spoken to him, sent messages,” Arteta confirmed. “He will be fine, he is such a strong character. He has received a lot of love and support from world football.
“Not only with Arsenal, but the national team and all the English fans because he doesn’t deserve anything like [what] he has been through.”
Arteta added: “He has had a phenomenal season. In football, you want to be part of the greatest. You have to know today, at 19, that you lose more than you win, unfortunately, in this game, and there are no exceptions to that rule.”
Arteta will expect an improved Saka at Arsenal after England heartache
Arteta will have wanted Saka to be a better player at Arsenal next season before his England heartache. And the Spaniard’s praise for the winger’s ‘strong character’ would suggest he still expects him to take his game to another level without a hitch.
Saka laid claim to a more prominent role at the Emirates last season with 32 Premier League appearances. The £30,000-per-week gem also offered the Gunners a consistent threat in a variety of roles, and played the most minutes in a single term of his career.
But while Saka struck a career-best five goals, he offered fewer assists with four than the five in 2019/20. Arteta will want the England dynamo to now take both his goals and assists up a notch next season, and see Saka show his critics what he can do in Arsenal colours.
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