Mikel Arteta has decided who will take Arsenal’s penalties going forward (Picture: Getty)
Mikel Arteta has made a decision on who will be Arsenal’s penalty taker going forward after Bukayo Saka missed from the spot at West Ham.
Saka had the chance to put Arsenal 3-1 up at the London Stadium on Sunday but fired well wide as West Ham went on to secure a draw to dent the Gunners’ Premier League title hopes.
The England international has apologised to Arsenal fans and has vowed to do everything he can to ‘make it right’.
Arsenal legend David Seaman has warned Saka that his penalty miss will not be forgotten if Arsenal fail to lift the Premier League trophy at the end of the season.
Arteta, though, has decided that he will not remove Saka from penalty duties as he faced the media on Thursday ahead of Friday’s match against Southampton.
Asked if Saka will keep taking penalties for the club, Arteta said: ‘Yes! If not, I will go on the pitch and throw him the ball and make sure he takes the next one.’
Quizzed about the 21-year-old’s disappointment at missing the penalty at West Ham, Arteta added: ‘That’s the way he is.
‘He loves responsibility but as well, he puts a lot on his shoulders.
‘Again, if he had any doubt about how much people love him, respect him and admire him at the club, he had a very overwhelming reaction from everybody in the building and the club.
‘I think at the end, it can become something very positive that can give him a big lift because everybody reacted in an unbelievable way towards him because he deserves it, because of the way he is.’
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Saka has enjoyed a fantastic season for Arsenal, registering 12 goals and 10 assists so far.
He became the first Premier League player to reach double figures in goals and assists this term and is the first Arsenal player to do so since Alexis Sanchez in 2016-17.
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‘I will go on the pitch and throw him the ball!’