Garth Crooks has praised Arsenal star Bukayo Saka on BBC Sport for his performances against Chelsea and Manchester United.
The former Tottenham Hotspur forward and BBC Sport pundit was impressed by how Saka took his spot kicks for Arsenal against Chelsea and Manchester United in the past week.
The 20-year-old attacker scored in injury time for Arsenal in their 4-2 win against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in London in the Premier League last week.
Mikel Arteta’s side won 3-1 against United at the Emirates Stadium in the league this past weekend.
England international Saka found the back of the net from the penalty spot in the 32nd minute.
Praise for Arsenal’s Bukayo Saka
Crooks wrote on BBC Sport: “I said shortly after the Euros that Saka would benefit greatly from the experience of this international tournament.
“Missing penalties is an awful experience for any professional footballer and only those with the meanest intelligence could have anything other than complete and total sympathy for the taker.
“Saka not only has immense talent but courage to go with it. Returning to take penalties for your club, having missed them so publicly for your country, takes guts.
“His penalty against Chelsea in midweek followed by the one that sent David de Gea the wrong way against Manchester United were quite brilliant under the circumstances.”
Big player
In our view, Saka is one of the best young players in Europe and is a key figure at Arsenal.
The 20-year-old has recovered from his disappointment for England at the Euro 2020 finals last summer and is now back to his best.
The Arsenal no. 7 has scored 11 goals and provided five assists in 31 Premier League starts so far this season.
Arsenal are in a very good position to finish in the top four of the Premier League table this season.
For the Gunners to achieve that quest, in our opinion, Saka will have to be on top of his game in the final weeks of the campaign.
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