Mikel Arteta told one Arsenal change he must make for PSG semi-final

Arsenal progressed to the semi-final of the Champions League by defeating Real Madrid but the fixture contained a moment Mikel Arteta should quickly learn from says Ben Foster

Mikel Arteta should have severe doubts over whether to allow Bukayo Saka to take penalties after his miss against Real Madrid, according to former Premier League goalkeeper Ben Foster. The ex-Manchester United shotstopper has blasted the Gunners star’s failed attempt at the Bernabeu.

Saka was awarded a fine chance to extend Arsenal’s lead to 4-0 on aggregate in the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final clash. But the England star’s tame spot-kick was easily saved by Thibaut Courtois.

The poor effort did not cost Arteta’s side as Saka went on to find the net as Arsenal progressed to the semi-final of the competition. But Foster believes that the penalty should live long in the memory of the north London side’s boss.

Ex-Tottenham and Real Madrid ace Rafael van der Vaart suggested Saka was a ‘disgrace’ and that the 23-year-old made a “total overestimation of himself. In the sense of: ‘I’m going to steal the show here’.” Foster it seems, is inclined to agree with that stance.

“I ain’t trying to dink Thibaut Courtois! It’s one of the s***est penalties I’ve ever seen. It is so s***,” Foster said on his YouTube channel.

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“I half agree with the comment [from Van der Vaart] because, at that moment in time, I think Bukayo Saka has got a little bit carried away with himself and he’s tried to show off. He has tried to show off when in reality, if he puts that ball in the back of the net, the game is done.

“It’s 10 minutes into the game. Put that ball in the back of the net and the game is done.”

“If I’m one of those other Arsenal players, I’m going up to him after that penalty and going, ‘Get your head in the game, k***head, don’t do silly s*** like this!’… I don’t want my player to be doing that,” Foster added.

“I don’t mind a player missing the target if he’s absolutely gone for it. If the goalie makes a world-class save, you put your hands up, but it wasn’t a world-class save.”

Foster would prefer to see Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard take the responsibility. The YouTuber replied: “Martin Odegaard, somebody where you go, “Yeah, go on then!”, just put the ball in the back of the net.

“That would cast massive doubts now if I’m the Arsenal manager and Bukayo Saka’s going to be doing that.”

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