Arsenal academy manager Per Mertesacker has now suggested how Gareth Southgate really feels about Bukayo Saka as England bid to reach the Euro 2024 final in Germany.
The Three Lions meet the Netherlands in Dortmund on Wednesday night with the chance to make back-to-back European Championship finals. England had never played the showpiece tie in UEFA’s premier international tournament prior to Euro 2020 and are also still to win it.
Saka along with Arsenal teammate Declan Rice have played major roles in England reaching the semi-finals of Euro 2024. Only Harry Kane (465) and Jude Bellingham (493) have played more minutes than Saka (457) has. Rice has also been an ‘under the radar’ star in Germany.
Per Mertesacker feels Bukayo Saka’s Euro 2024 form shows Gareth Southgate ‘trusts’ him
Euro 2024 is also a chance for Saka to respond to the heartbreaking way he and England lost on penalties to Italy in the final of Euro 2020 at Wembley. The Arsenal academy product saw Gianluigi Donnarumma save his spot kick after taking the Three Lions’ fifth and final penalty.
Saka received horrendous abuse after the Euro 2020 final but put some of his demons away in Germany by converting from the spot during England’s quarter-final shootout victory over Switzerland. Mertesacker admits he also got ‘goosebumps’ seeing Saka score from 12 yards.
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Seeing how Saka dealt with the fallout from Euro 2020 to help England dream of making the Euro 2024 final this summer also leaves Arsenal academy boss Mertesacker ‘proud’. The ex-Gunners defender further feels it shows Southgate trusts Saka as he ‘knows’ he can step up.
“I know Saka very closely and with what he’s been through – especially three years ago with the abuse – I’m so proud of him,” Mertesacker told the Daily Mail.
“I got goosebumps watching him. When you work closely with someone, you know what they’re capable of. He can deliver and the way he has come back from the abuse to this tournament, he seems stronger than ever.
“That speaks for the youth system of England and for the trust in him from a manager like Gareth Southgate because he knows he can deliver world-class moments.”
Bukayo Saka stepped up twice for England vs Switzerland to reach the semi-finals
Southgate backing Saka to net his penalty against Switzerland was only the latest sign that the England boss trusts the Arsenal academy product to shine at Euro 2024. He has trusted the 22-year-old to start each of the Three Lions’ five fixtures so far and reaped the rewards.
Converting from the spot last Saturday marked the second time that Saka actually beat Yann Sommer in Dusseldorf. He even produced a sensational strike to see the tie go to extra-time, which Rice also assisted. Breel Embolo had sealed Switzerland a 1-0 lead in the 75th minute.
It took Saka just five minutes to equalise for his first goal of Euro 2024 when the attacker cut inside from the right wing and drilled the ball into the far corner. His shot left Sommer with no chance of making a save as it flew through a packed area as Saka became England’s hero.
Arsenal chase Riccardo Calafiori and a mystery German target as England face Switzerland
In this week’s episode of The Arsenal Insider Podcast, Will Jones and Rahul Lakhani debated England’s recent victory against Slovakia at Euro 2024. Arsenal duo Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka featured for the Three Lions again, while Kyle Walker of Man City came under scrutiny.
With Arsenal linked to Bologna defender Riccardo Calafiori, the pair explained why the Italy star may be a perfect fit for Mikel Arteta. Recent social media rumours concerning a possible Arsenal swoop for a Germany International were addressed, with some candidates named.
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