Arsenal star Bukayo Saka has, on Sunday evening, taken to social media, to send a message of thanks to those who attended today’s North London Derby.
Son on target
Mikel Arteta’s men were back in action this afternoon.
Amid the club’s efforts to ramp up their preparations for the new season, the Gunners made the trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, for a friendly clash.
Arsenal headed into proceedings in search of a morale-boosting result, having endured an altogether underwhelming pre-season to date.
When all was said and done in the capital, however, the visitors’ woes only continued.
A solitary goal, netted by Heung-min Son, proved enough to separate the long-time rivals upon the final whistle sounding.
After being slipped in by the impressive Japhet Tanganga a little over ten minutes from time, Son did superbly to control, before lashing home with his left foot at Bernd Leno’s near post:
It’s a beauty from Heung-Min Son!
⚪️ 1-0 🔴 (79′) pic.twitter.com/m5bfcpBPeG
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) August 8, 2021
Saka responds
As outlined above, though, amid an otherwise disappointing afternoon for Arsenal on Sunday, there was, at one point, cause for celebration.
This came in altogether surprise circumstances, upon the 2nd-half introduction of Bukayo Saka to the fray.
The occasion of course marked youngster Saka’s first appearance since his decisive Euro 2020 penalty shootout miss, which ultimately cost England a shot at glory, and sparked a barrage of horrific racial abuse being directed at Arsenal’s up-and-coming wide-man.
The significance of Saka’s return on Sunday, in turn, was evidently not lost on those in attendance at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, with fans, both home and away, having provided the 19-year-old with a rousing reception:
Rivalries aside. What a moment this was this afternoon.
💙 @BukayoSaka87 pic.twitter.com/sfObRqyGP8
— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) August 8, 2021
And Saka himself has since made clear his appreciation for the gesture, taking to Instagram to post the following message:
Bukayo Saka reacts on Instagram story to #Tottenham fans applauding him as he came on today: “So much respect for this 🙏🏿 Thank you ! ❤️” [IG: bukayosaka87] pic.twitter.com/us13qb69BJ
— The Spurs Express (@TheSpursExpress) August 8, 2021
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