JAKARTA - Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says winger Bukayo Saka has strong character and will at the same time assist the teenager in overcoming racist abuse directed at him on social media after he missed the penalty shootout against Italy in the Euro 2020 final.
The 19-year-old missed a penalty after two of his team-mates Marcus Rashford (23) and Jadon Sancho (21) also missed the shootout. All three were then subjected to online racial harassment.
The harassment prompted police to launch an investigation and sparked widespread condemnation.
Arteta said he had spoken to Saka and was sure he would be fine.
"He has such a strong character. He has earned the love and support of world football, not only from Arsenal fans but also from the national team and England fans because he doesn't deserve to go through what he's been through," Arteta said as quoted by Reuters.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson held a meeting with social media companies to ask them to do more to fight racist abuse online.
"Hopefully the law will be stricter. Hopefully it can have a big impact because this is the right time to straighten it out," said Arteta.
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