The Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has confirmed that the Spaniard Mikel Arteta will remain as the clubs penalty taker despite being guilty of the miss that cost the team an opportunity of taking all three points in the recent match against Fulham. Arsenal were awarded a 94th min penalty in the match against Fulham. The match was evenly poised 3-3, which would have meant another set of dropped points for Arsenal. However, Mikel Arteta had the opportunity to give the team and undeserved late winner in the match. His penalty, however, was not converted into a goal and the match finished 3-3.
Despite this penalty miss, he will remain as the club’s designated penalty taker according to the manager Arsene Wenger. Arteta has been in inspirational form during the first few months of the season. He has been utilised as a defensive midfielder by the manager, which has brought the best out of him and also the new signing Santi Cazorla. Due to the reassurance of Mikel Arteta in the back, Cazorla has been able to venture forward to great effect. However, the team has been suffering from a poor run of results in recent weeks. Arteta is a major doubt for the match against Tottenham during the weekend. Wenger has revealed that the Spaniard will be having late tests to determine his fitness.
“He took it because in my list he’s the number one. If he had not done it I would have questioned him. Lukas Podolski was number two and he was not on the pitch, Theo Walcott was number three and he was not on the pitch as well. It was him or Santi Cazorla to take it. Arteta was completely upset. Mikel is a guy who is highly focused and motivated to win the game every time,” said Wenger.