Real Madrid star involved in tunnel spat with Bukayo Saka during Champions League exit | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta joked that he wanted to give Bukayo Saka "a clip round the ear" after his failed 'Panenka' penalty against Real Madrid on Wednesday night. Dani Carvajal made it a reality.

Saka's misjudged spot-kick was beaten away by Thibaut Courtois during a tense first half at Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu in the Champions League quarter-final second leg. Arsenal took a 3-0 lead to the Spanish capital after a riotous opening tie in London and had the chance to extend their advantage after Raul Asencio dragged Mikel Merino to the floor during a corner scramble.

Courtois was a match for Saka's limp attempt at a dink in the 13th minute to keep the game goalless. Madrid had their own penalty overturned by VAR before both sets of players headed for the tunnel after a first half with seven minutes of added time.

The injured Carvajal, wearing casual clothes while he recovers from an ACL tear, was waiting on the touchline to greet his teammates when Saka trotted over. The Real Madrid stalwart appeared to initially have a friendly exchange with his Arsenal counterpart, shaking hands and gently touching the side of his face.

But as Saka continued walking towards the tunnel, Carvajal grabbed onto his arm, pulled him closer before a brief exchange of light slapping as they stumbled into the bowels of the Bernabeu.

Saka emerged for the second half entirely unperturbed. Arsenal's talisman produced a devilish dink to beat Courtois in the second half, scoring the first in what proved to be a relatively routine 2-1 win on the night for the Gunners.

"These things happen," Saka shrugged when asked about his penalty. "I tried, but it didn't work. But I was very confident I could score tonight. I learn from every moment, although tonight I'm more focused on enjoying the victory, and I'll review the rest later."

Arteta may have joked about corporal punishment but had full faith in his star man. "It could have been a turning point emotionally in the game but the way he handles it, the personality, at his age playing in this stadium for the first time was incredible," the Arsenal boss gushed.

"I could have given him a clip round the ear. But he decided what is best: he had the courage to take it, that’s what he thought was best. I was more concerned about the emotional part of it." Yet, Saka wasn't fazed by his miss or the frank exchange with Carvajal.