Martin Odegaard explains Bukayo Saka snub amid Arsenal penalty revelation

Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard has opened on the reason why Bukayo Saka didn't take the match-winning penalty against Crystal Palace on Monday night.

The Gunners travelled to Selhurst Park earlier this week but were held at a deadlock throughout the first half despite numerous chances to go ahead including an Eddie Nketiah shot that hit the post.

However, it was the 22-year-old that got Mikel Arteta's side on the board after quick thinking between him and Gabriel Martinelli after a free kick on the edge of the area was played instantly into the path of Nketiah who was brought down by Sam Johnstone in the box.

But to the surprise of many, it wasn't regular spot-kick taker Saka that stepped up but instead captain Odegaard who calmly slotted it to Johnstone's right, sending him the wrong way.

Despite the Takehiro Tomiyasu red card, Arsenal managed to hang on through heavy pressure from Roy Hodgson's side over the final 20 minutes to take all three points.

The win meant the Gunners continued their perfect start to the season having already beaten Nottingham Forest 2-1 on the opening weekend to begin their campaign.

But supporters were worried over the choice of penalty takers and have wanted an answer from both manager and player and while Arteta wasn't in a place to comment on the situation, Odegaard will calm fans' anxiety as he reveals there's no real system in place."I have to thank Bukayo for his part in the decision on the penalty against Palace," he wrote in the Captain's Notes for the programme ahead of the Fulham clash.

"It wasn’t something we discussed before the game, but we’d been practising them a lot in pre-season and I scored all of mine, so I was feeling good.

"As I mentioned in my programme notes for the Nottingham Forest game, I am ready to take them if needed, because I like that responsibility. So when we got the penalty on Monday, me and Bukayo talked and I asked if I could take it.

"I was feeling good and he gave it to me so thanks a lot to Bukayo for that. The main thing is that I put it in the goal so everyone was happy! So we’ll see what happens next time we get a penalty, we will see who’s feeling good and wants to take it."

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