Mikel Arteta insists Bukayo Saka is still Arsenal's first-choice penalty taker - 'I'll throw him the ball'

Mikel Arteta says he will «go on the pitch and throw Bukayo Saka the ball» if the winger tries to get out of taking Arsenal’s next penalty after a costly miss. Saka failed to convert from the spot as the Gunners were held to a 2-2 draw at West Ham on Sunday; a result that saw Manchester City close the gap to four points with a game in hand. Ad But Arteta backed the England international to continue being first-choice on penalty duties.

Premier LeagueHow to watch Man City v Arsenal in the Premier League17/04/2023 AT 09:18 «Yes. If not, I will go on the pitch and throw him the ball and make sure he will take the next one,” Arteta said. Arsenal face rock-bottom Southampton next on Friday night, but they will still be without influential defender William Saliba, while Oleksandr Zinchenko is also set to miss out.

»With William we have to wait a little bit more. He is not progressing as quickly as we had hoped,” Arteta said. Levy says Kane can 'absolutely win a trophy at Spurs' and wants him to have a statue Silva tips Man City to 'bring home titles' after reaching semi-final 'Revenge' on offer in season-defining Milan Derby semi-final “We have to be delicate.

We want to be very certain when we push him that he is ready to absorb the load. With the risk we would take at the moment that is not possible to do. “Probably next week we will have a little bit more certainty.

He is not ready yet to throw him on the pitch and compete with the intensity demanded in this league. «We are not certain (about Zinchenko). It is a muscular injury and he needs some time to heal.