Mikel Arteta "wanted to slap" Bukayo Saka after the Arsenal star missed his "bold" penalty against Real Madrid.
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Article continues below
Article continues below
- Saka had the opportunity to put Arsenal in front
- Winger saw his spot-kick saved
- Arteta was fuming as Saka decided to chip Courtois
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WHAT HAPPENED?
The match at the Santiago Bernabéu began with high intensity, and Arsenal had a golden opportunity to settle nerves when they were awarded a penalty in the 13th minute. Saka, usually dependable from the spot, opted for a Panenka-style chip, but Real Madrid keeper Thibaut Courtois remained composed and comfortably dealt with it.
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- AFP
THE BIGGER PICTURE
Despite the early miss, Arsenal went on to secure a 2-1 win on the night, with Saka later redeeming himself by scoring from open play. Thus, the North London side completed a stunning 5-1 aggregate triumph over the 15-time European champions and booked a place in the semi-finals for just the third time in the club’s history.
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WHAT ARTETA SAID
Asked later how he reacted to the miss, Arteta responded with a wry smile.
“I didn’t want to die, but maybe I wanted to slap him," he joked. "He made that decision, he was bold enough to do it, and he missed. I was more concerned about the emotional part. What it could do for us. The personality he showed at his age, in the first time he played in this stadium, [is] incredible.”
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DID YOU KNOW?
The spotlight inevitably returned to Saka, whose night encapsulated both risk and redemption. His daring attempt from the spot could have derailed the team, but instead, it served as a footnote in a performance that saw him rise to the occasion.
"It can happen. I tried something, but it didn't work," he said. "I was confident I was going to score tonight. I learn in every moment. Tonight, I am more focused on enjoying the win, and then I will review it properly."
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