Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta jokingly admitted he wanted to slap Bukayo Saka after the winger’s penalty miss in the Champions League quarterfinal match against Real Madrid.
Saka’s Panenka-style penalty was saved by Thibaut Courtois in the first half, but he redeemed himself by scoring in the 65th minute, extending Arsenal’s lead to 4-0 on aggregate.
“I would have liked to slap him. But the player has to make the decision, and he was bold enough to do it,” Arteta said with a tongue-in-cheek tone.
“That could have been a turning point emotionally because it gave them a lot of belief. But then the way he handled the situation, and the way he played afterwards was incredible.”
Arteta praised Saka’s maturity and resilience, highlighting his exceptional performance despite the penalty miss. Arsenal ultimately won the match 2-1, securing a 5-1 aggregate victory and advancing to the Champions League semifinals, where they’ll face Paris Saint-Germain ¹ ².
“Bukayo Saka may have messed up his penalty, but performed superbly in both legs,” Arteta added, commending Saka’s boldness and skill. The win marks a significant milestone for Arsenal, and Arteta believes his team has the potential to win the Champions League trophy for the first time in history ¹ ².