A year ago
Arsenal has three potential spot kickers after Bukayo Saka's miss against West Ham
Bukayo Saka, a player for Arsenal, may be forever linked to his penalty miss during the Euro 2020 Final against Italy. Despite facing challenges, Saka showed strength by assuming the role of designated penalty taker for his team and performing flawlessly until that fateful day.
Saka's recent miss against West Ham may not receive as much attention as his previous one at Wembley, but it will still weigh heavily on him. He knows that his inaccurate shot, which missed the goal by a long way, could have significant implications for Arsenal's chances in the title race.
Despite this setback, Saka has demonstrated remarkable mental strength by not only bouncing back with his performances for club and country but also by taking on the responsibility of being Arsenal's penalty taker. He had successfully converted all four penalties before the weekend and showed that he could handle the pressure.
However, if Saka decides not to take the next penalty for Arsenal, Mikel Arteta will need to consider other options. Gabriel Jesus could be the first choice, but he has a less than impressive record when it comes to penalties, having missed more than he has scored throughout his career. Despite this, he managed to successfully convert his only penalty for Arsenal in a recent 4-1 victory over Leeds earlier this month.
Martin Odegaard has not taken a penalty during a competitive match in his professional career so far. However, he demonstrated his ability to take penalties confidently and skillfully during the shootout loss against Sporting Lisbon in the Europa League. Given the chance, Odegaard would likely want to step up and take on the responsibility of being a penalty taker for Arsenal. He has the necessary technical ability and composure to perform the task effectively.
Jorginho has an impressive record when it comes to penalties, having taken a total of 48 penalties in his career and scoring 41 of them. He has scored 27 out of 31 penalties for his former club, Chelsea. However, as he hasn't started a league game since March 1, there is a good chance that he won't be on the pitch if Arsenal get awarded a penalty.
In summary, while Saka has shown the strength to be Arsenal's designated penalty taker, he may need to take a break from the role after his recent miss. Gabriel Jesus, Martin Odegaard, and Jorginho are all potential options for Arsenal's next penalty taker, with each player having their strengths and weaknesses when it comes to taking penalties. Ultimately, it will be up to Arteta to decide who takes the next penalty for Arsenal, and the pressure will be on whoever assumes the role.
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