Mikel Arteta has praised the role England manager Gareth Southgate played in helping Bukayo Saka get over his Euro 2020 penalty heartache.
Saka has stepped up to take and score crucial penalties in Arsenal's last two games after seeing his decisive kick saved in last summer's final against Italy, an incident which was followed by the Arsenal star, Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford – who were also unsuccessful from the spot at Wembley – suffering sickening online racist abuse.
Arsenal player Saka saw his spot-kick repelled by Italy keeper Gianluigi Donnarumma
Saka's willingness to put himself back on the spot says plenty about the mental resolve the 20 year-old possesses and Arteta said: 'The first two conversations I had with him were straight after the incident but I must say that Gareth Southgate was really helpful as well because he had Bukayo in his hands in that moment and they were really caring and really supportive of him.