ARTETA: SAKA CAN COPE WITH BIG TIME

JOHN CROSS

GUNNERS boss Mikel Arteta praised Bukayo Saka after he rounded off his “tough week” in spectacular fashion.

The teenager scored his first goal for Arsenal at the Emirates just three days after his first senior England call-up on the back of playing at Anfield.

Arteta (above) was impressed by the part his 19-year-old star played in the win over Sheffield United as his team survived a late fightback from the visitors.

Arteta said: “It has been a really tough week for him. He played twice, at Anfield and again today. He got a lot of attention after that call-up and he handled it with a lot of maturity.”

Saka was an unused sub as the Gunners lost away to Liverpool in the Premier League last Monday, but starred on their quick return in Thursday’s Carabao Cup-tie, which Arsenal won on penalties.

Arteta was impressed by his players’ resilience. “Going to Anfield once drains you,” he said.

“To go two times in four days and you see that commitment. I saw they were upset to lose the league game. We are on the right path, this is another step forward.”

Saka, who nodded in Arsenal’s opener yesterday, said: “All the things that have happened to me, I feel blessed. I’m a happy man.

“I don’t get a lot of headers but it fell perfectly for me.

“I told Hector Bellerin what a cross it was. It is the kind of patterns we work on.

“I am trying to do my best when the boss picks me. I try to repay the trust. We gave so much credit to Sheffield United as they are a good side. We are happy to get the points.”

Arteta also singled out Bellerin – who has been a transfer target for Paris Saint-germain – for special praise after his two assists for both Saka and Nicolas Pepe.

Arteta added: “He’s demanding all the time to do more individual work. When you do that you get rewarded. He has been here a long time and was doubting whether he could evolve here.

“But when he could see what we were doing here, he became a completely different player.”