Mikel Arteta told one Arsenal change he must make for PSG semi-final - 'Massive doubts'
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.
"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."
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
25 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Jorginho finds new club after Arsenal release and is set to play at the Club World Cup
Jorginho is set to feature at the Club World Cup this month after signing with a new club following his release by Arsenal. The 33-year-old was one of multiple first-team departures on Arsenal's retained list, with the likes of Kieran Tierney and Neto also listed. On Friday Arsenal announced that Jorginho's contract had been terminated by mutual consent effective immediately. The move marked the end of a two-and-a-half year spell in north London for the Brazilian-born former Italy international that saw him make 79 appearances in all competitions, scoring two goals. However, while many of his contemporaries face a summer of uncertainty as they embark on the hunt to find a new club Jorginho's next move has already been announced. On Friday Brazilian club Flamengo revealed that they had signed the midfielder on a three-year deal. 'It was with my feet that I wrote my story around the world, in every corner, a chapter and in every step, achievements,' Jorginho wrote on social media following the announcement. 'I won titles, lived great moments, but deep down, football always spoke to me in one language: the language of the heart. I spent years away from my origins, but this game, which took me to distant destinations, also brought me back. 'And today, such a special day, I feel happy and motivated, with the will of a boy full of dreams and one certainty: the best is yet to come. 'I am grateful for the opportunity and I am very excited to wear the jersey and play in a packed Maraca.' The club, managed by former Chelsea and Atletico Madrid full-back Filipe Luis, currently sit top of the Brasileiro Serie A with just one defeat from their opening 11 games. Flamengo have been placed in Group D for the revamped Club World Cup that is set to get underway in the United States later this month. The 16 club will first take on Tunisian side ES Tunis on the 16 June at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. Four days later Jorginho will face his former club Chelsea before rounding out their group stage campaign against MLS side Los Angeles FC on June 24.
BBC News
31 minutes ago
- BBC News
'I am not bitter' - Mbappe on PSG Champions League win
Kylian Mbappe says he is not bitter over Paris St-Germain's Champions League victory less than a year after leaving the club for Real forward left PSG as the club's record goalscorer but was unable to win European football's premier club competition in seven seasons with the French giants before signing for Madrid on a free transfer in July cruised past Inter Milan 5-0 to win their first Champions League title on 31 May."I didn't leave too soon; my story with PSG was over. I am not bitter; I had reached the end of the road," said France captain Mbappe, who scored 256 goals for on Saturday at a news conference before France's Nations League third-place match with Germany, Mbappe added: "I tried everything, and it was destiny that meant it had to happen without me."PSG winning the Champions League without me doesn't affect me. I was happy - I think they deserved it."They've had so many years where they struggled. I've been there too; I've played in every Champions League stage in Paris except for the victory."They're the best team in Europe. I don't remember seeing a team win 5-0 in a major final."The closes Mbappe came to Champions League success with his boyhood club was a runners-up medal following defeat by Bayern Munich in the 2020 final. Mbappe's Madrid, who were knocked out by Arsenal at the quarter-final stage of last season's Champions League, ended the campaign without a trophy for the first time in four years. The 26-year-old did enjoy some success, though, after scoring 31 La Liga goals to win the European Golden Shoe.
Daily Mail
40 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
How Jobe is morphing into Jude: Bellingham brothers are following same path thanks to plan mapped out by their police sergeant father and doting mother with younger sibling turning his back on Premier League
Bellingham. One of the biggest names in the footballing world right now. Jude is the first of the Bellingham fold that comes to mind, having gone from Birmingham to the Bernabeu and rising to global fame along the way. At just 21-years-old, Bellingham has now completed his second domestic season with Real Madrid, playing alongside the likes of Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Jr. Bought for £88.5m by Los Blancos, Bellingham has been performing at superb levels both for club and country, continuing to be at the forefront of new England manager Thomas Tuchel 's plans. Yet, Jude is not the only Bellingham to be making a name for himself - with younger brother Jobe set to follow his older brother down a similar career path amid an impending move to German giants Borussia Dortmund. But, what is it that's lead to the striking similarities between the two? Well, Jobe and Jude have always maintained a close relationship, with family being a centrepiece for the Bellingham clan. Jobe's big brother Jude Bellingham previously played for Dortmund between 2020 and 2023 The brothers may steal the spotlight but the importance of their parents cannot be forgotten given just how essential they were in the early stages of their sons' careers. The Bellingham's ferried both Jobe and Jude to football matches growing up and the pair continue to have an active presence in the boys' lives. When Jude moved to Madrid, Mark, a former non-league striker, stayed at home with Jobe to support his development while mother Denise went to the Spanish capital. Denise, who works in human resources, manages her son's finances, allowing the pair to focus on their football. Jude even mentioned once that his mother, who resides with him in a shared flat in Madrid, makes his bed and cooks his meals. Mark has also had an important impact on the boys' life, being a key role model during their youth. A retired police sergeant for West Midlands Police, Mark introduced both Jude and Jobe to football and gave them tips on how to improve and how to deal with the pressures of football. With 700 goals in 900 appearances in the non-league, it is clear to see where the boys got their talent from, as Mark has been the catalyst for his boys falling in love with the sport. The family have always maintained a close relationship and helped shape their early careers Jude told the The Football Association: 'We talk about footballing heroes, and my dad was like my first. 'When you go and watch him play every week in non-league, you know it's not the Premier League or anything, but seeing the way that he played and the atmosphere, it made me fall in love with football so he was probably my first hero.' The Bellingham's consistently support eachother such as when Jude and his parents flew in to watch Jobe playing in the England Under-21s back in November 2024. Jobe has benefitted greatly from his parents' support just like Jude has, and the move to Borussia Dortmund marks a major step in his playing career. His family will be with him every step of the way as the 19-year-old ventures into a new country and new league, competing at the top for one of Germany's best teams. The 19-year-old will follow in Jude's footsteps and join Dortmund, signing on a five-year deal. Just as his brother did, Jobe started at boyhood club Birmingham, progressing through the academy to play for the senior team. He made 25 appearances for the Blues before Sunderland picked up the young starlet for less than £1.5m, which seems an absolute steal now. Stourbridge's finest became a spearhead of the Black Cats' midfield, making 90 appearances other two seasons, including propelling the side to a return to the Premier League after an eight-year wait. His outstanding performances in the Championship deservedly won him the EFL Young Player of the Season, an accolade his older brother won when he was at Birmingham. Who knows, pending the success of his spell with Borussia Dortmund, could Jobe and Jude play together under the lights of the Santiago Bernabeu? Only time will tell.
