BBC pundit lauds Bukayo Saka after his two penalties for Arsenal

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Garth Crooks has told BBC Sport that Bukayo Saka deserves huge credit for showing that he has the courage to go along with his immense talent after scoring two penalties across the last two games for Arsenal.

Saka, of course, went into this season having been one of the players who missed a penalty in the Euro 2020 final. Rightly, there was a lot of sympathy for the Arsenal star.

Saka has shown that he is an unbelievable prospect. And he is one of the most popular players in the Premier League, with so many neutrals open about the fact that they love watching the 20-year-old for the Gunners.

He is now into double figures for Premier League goals after scoring penalties against both Chelsea and Manchester United. On both occasions, the goals looked to be crucial.

His strike against Chelsea sealed the points for Mikel Arteta’s side. And his effort on Saturday – which he won – put Arsenal 2-0 up in a game they ultimately won 3-1.

And Crooks suggested that Saka deserves enormous credit for the way that he stepped up with the two Arsenal penalties.

“Missing penalties is an awful experience for any professional footballer and only those with the meanest intelligence could have anything other than complete and total sympathy for the taker,” he told BBC Sport.

“Saka not only has immense talent but courage to go with it. Returning to take penalties for your club, having missed them so publicly for your country, takes guts.

“His penalty against Chelsea in midweek followed by the one that sent David de Gea the wrong way against Manchester United were quite brilliant under the circumstances.”

Bukayo Saka helps put Arsenal top-four push back on track

Arsenal are back on pole position for fourth spot in the Premier League. They went into the game with Chelsea having lost three on the spin. And it seemed that they had blown their opportunity.

But they have picked up two massive victories to take a step towards fourth spot. Clearly, there is huge work to be done.

With players such as Saka in the ranks, they have every chance of going on and achieving their goal. He is brave in many ways out on the pitch.

And he will not shy away from what is to come in the weeks ahead.