SaKa has iT down To an arT’ ForM!

MIKEL ARTETA claims Bukayo Saka is reaping the rewards from a nightmare summer that has made him a better player.

Saka, Martin Odegaard and Gabriel Martinelli all scored as Arsenal took a big step towards a top-four finish at Vicarage Road.

But it was Saka who led the way — and Arteta reckons it’s all down to his penalty heartbreak with England in the Euros and the way football rallied around him.

The Arsenal boss said: “Has it made him a better player? I think so. Experiences like that mark your career and what you learn from those moments are much more than if you had scored that goal.

“I think it was great for his career because the football world showed how much they like and respect him.

“It was a big boost for him to see that in a difficult moment people are going to give him that support. He needs to continue to behave and get better.”

Arteta (inset) took matters into his own hands by racing from his techincal area to help Saka take a quick throw-in for Arsenal’s third goal.

He said: “I don’t know if I should have done it but that is the way I live the game and I couldn’t help myself. I saw an advantage and I took it. We have to be alive.”

Decision

Beaten Watford boss Roy Hodgson claimed he will carry on ignoring Hornets fans who booed his decision to substititute midfielder Imran Louza.

He said: “I thought Imran looked a little bit tired. The fans don’t pick the team because I don’t trust their judgement.

“My problem is the ones that are not their favourites are the ones who are doing the best job for the team right now.

“I’d like to think the fans will help us. I’ll keep believing they have same kind of faith I have in this team.”