Mikel Arteta: ‘Strong character’ Bukayo Saka will bounce back after racist abuse following England defeat
The Arsenal youngster missed a penalty in the shootout as England lost the Euro 2020 final to Italy
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta believes Bukayo Saka will quickly bounce back from the racist abuse he received after England’s Euro 2020 final defeat.
Saka, 19, was targeted on social media after missing his penalty in the shootout at Wembley against Italy while Marcus Rashford and Jadon Sancho also received abusive messages.
Arteta told Sky Sports he had personally spoken to Saka after England’s Wembley heartbreak, saying: “Yes, I have. We all have, I think, spoken to him, sent messages.
“He will be fine. He is such a strong character.
“He has received a lot of love and support from world football, not only with Arsenal but the national team and all the English fans because he doesn’t deserve anything like he has been through.”
The racist abuse received by England’s players has been met with widespread condemnation.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson met with social media companies at Downing Street on Tuesday in a bid to improve how to erase the problem.
Arteta, whose Arsenal side lost 2-1 to Hibernian in a pre-season friendly on Tuesday, added: “Hopefully we can use this now to make a strong statement and we have to stop racial abuse on social media and people using social media to hide and put people in really bad places.
“Hopefully the laws will become stronger.
“I think we are all going to try and make a strong case out of that and hopefully, it can have a big impact because I think it is the moment to put that right.”