Arteta deflects Souness 'cheat' attack on Saka ahead of Bayern Munich clash

Mikel Arteta refused to be drawn into a public dispute with Graeme Souness on Tuesday, calmly brushing aside the pundit’s claim that Bukayo Saka is a ‘cheat’ as Arsenal prepared for their Champions League tie at Bayern Munich’s Allianz Arena on Wednesday.

Souness had made the accusation during an appearance on Piers Morgan’s Football Uncensored programme, where he described Saka as a serial diver. “Your man Saka dives all over the place,” the former Liverpool captain said. “Anyone who simulates a foul, in my book, would be a cheat.”

The Scotsman went further, arguing that Saka “screams as he’s going down” to influence referees, and that Arsenal players surrounding him in those moments compound the pressure on officials. “The referee panics,” Souness said. “He blows his whistle when it wasn’t a foul.” He also acknowledged that simulation is a widespread problem in the modern game, not one unique to Saka or Arsenal.

Asked about the comments at his pre-match press conference, Arteta kept his response measured. “I haven’t heard it and I’m not going to talk about opinions,” he said initially. When pressed for a more direct rebuttal, the Arsenal manager held his ground without escalating the exchange.

“We are open to opinions,” Arteta said. “It’s part of our job, it’s part of our roles, and those opinions need to be respected — especially if they are given in a respectful way. We are here to prove that we belong to this level, to this stage, and certainly always have the intention and ambition to improve and be better. That’s it.”

Saka, who contributed two goal involvements from the bench in Arsenal’s previous Champions League fixture, is expected to feature against Bayern Munich.