‘If you want to be the greatest’: Arsenal boss Arteta sends a message to Bukayo Saka

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was asked about Bukayo Saka after what has been a difficult few days for the youngster.

The Englishman stepped up for England in the penalty shootout with the burden of the entire country on his young shoulders. His strike was saved by Gianluigi Donnarumma, and that handed Italy the European crown.

Saka was inconsolable after the game. It was heartbreaking to see the teenager in tears and things only got worse for him. The youngster, along with Jadon Sancho and Marcus Rashford, was subjected to disgusting racial abuse on social media.

It’s almost impossible to imagine what Saka would be going through at the moment. Arteta was asked if he had spoken to the teenager and he revealed that he was fine. He sent a message of support to him and urged social media companies to take action against the offenders immediately.

Mikel Arteta: Bukayo Saka is such a strong character

Arteta told Sky Sports: “Yes, I have, we all have, we’ve spoken to him, sent messages. He will be fine, he’s such a strong character, he has received a lot of love and support from the world of football, not only from Arsenal, but from the national team and English fans.

“He doesn’t deserve anything like he’s been through. He’s had a phenomenal season and in football, if you want to be the greatest, you have to know, today, at 19, you will lose more than you will win unfortunately in this game and there are no exceptions to that rule.

“Hopefully, we can use now again to make a strong statement and we have to stop that racial abuse on social media and people using social media to hide and put people in really bad places.

“Hopefully, the laws become stronger, we’re all going to try to make a strong case out of that and hopefully it can have a big impact because I think now is the moment to put that right.”

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Saka will be given a well-deserved break now after what has been a hectic 18 months for him. Everyone at Arsenal will be behind him once he’s back and we can’t wait to see him deliver the goods again for us next season.