Mikel Arteta says Bukayo Saka believes in himself and enjoys the responsibility of pressure penalties, despite what happened at the Euros last year.

Nobody needs to be reminded of Bukayo Saka’s saved penalty in the Euro 2020 final last year, considering the high-profile nature of the game and the widespread reporting on the aftermath.

It’s hard not to recall that moment when Saka steps up to the penalty spot, as he did again in the Liverpool match at the weekend. But the player himself seems to have shaken off those demons.

Saka has now scored penalties against Chelsea, Manchester United, and Liverpool since the Euros.

All three were pressure penalties against some of the biggest clubs in the country, but he didn’t falter.

Discussing Saka’s bounce back from last summer, Arteta says the young winger didn’t hesitate.

“Yeah, that was a difficult moment that was an incredible learning curve for him in his career,” Arteta admitted.

“That’s the way he took it. Everybody around him helped to do that starting with the England national team with Gareth and everybody and how supportive they were.

“The boy didn’t hesitate to continue because he believes he can take them and under pressure, he really enjoys that responsibility.

“He trains it every single day but it’s at Colney. It’s very different to stand here and do what he’s done, so credit to the boy, especially after what happened over a year ago.”

With every penalty Saka scores, he should grow in confidence, particularly when those penalties are as meaningful as Sunday’s.

It remains to be seen whether Gareth Southgate would put the winger on duty in another England shootout, but it looks like the 21-year-old would be up to the task.