Journalist James McNicholas has been seriously impressed by how one Arsenal star has moved on from one difficult incident in his career.
Bukayo Saka is now a reliable penalty taker for Arsenal.
The winger was once again faultless from the spot as he confidently dispatched his penalty in the shootout win over Porto on Tuesday evening. Saka was the third Arsenal player to step up in the shootout and thumped the ball past Diogo Costa.
Arsenal fans felt that Saka was generally poor in this second-leg clash. However, when the pressure was really on and he was needed to step up, he made no mistake.
As a result of winning this shootout, the Gunners qualified for the quarter-finals of the Champions League for the first time in 14 years. Saka has since sent a message to Arsenal fans, celebrating this achievement.
The Hale End academy graduate generally has an excellent record from the spot. However, he has missed a couple of particularly important ones.
In the summer of 2020, whilst representing England at that year’s EUROs tournament, the 22-year-old was called upon during the penalty shootout in the final of the competition at Wembley Stadium. Saka was tasked with taking the crucial penalty, that needed to be scored to keep the Three Lions alive in the shootout. However, the attacker saw his effort saved.
Last season, in the red and white of Arsenal, Saka was handed the chance to convert from 12-yards against West Ham United. He failed to score, and the Gunners went on to draw that match, which played its part in seeing the club fall short in the title race.
Bukayo Saka overcomes lows to rise to occasion for Arsenal
Despite these high-profile disappointments, Saka has never shied away from taking a penalty since, and has scored vital ones against the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea, Manchester United, Manchester City, and Liverpool.
Mikel Arteta clearly has huge faith in Saka as a penalty taker. Though, he is not Arsenal’s only designated taker, as that is a duty they have shared around this season.
James McNicholas has now had his say on how he felt seeing Saka step up in the shootout. Speaking on the Handbrake Off podcast, the reporter said, “Bukayo Saka, he struck his with a bit of venom behind it, some real power into that corner.”
“It’s a trauma that we carry. I genuinely think it is something that he has moved past at this point in his career. You know, he’s scored plenty of penalties since then.”
“Some players bear those scars for their whole careers, and I think it’s a credit to him. I think he’s been able to rationalise it…I think he relishes those moments.”
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