What Arsenal star Bukayo Saka did to show true colours despite Port Vale boos

Bukayo Saka made his first start in four weeks for Arsenal's Carabao Cup third round clash away to Port Vale. The Gunners winger returned off the bench against Manchester City this past weekend after missing three games with a hamstring injury.

Mikel Arteta lost the 24-year-old for a few months last season with a more serious issue in the same area but his absence this time round was softened by the impact of Noni Madueke. Saka replaced the summer signing at half-time on Sunday afternoon with it later confirmed he has picked up a knee injury.

That blow will almost certainly impact Saka with regular starts off the right looking likely for the coming weeks. And that started in Stoke-On-Trent with Saka included in a strong starting XI, alongside the likes of William Saliba and Eberechi Eze, to face League one opposition

It was the latter that opened the scoring on Wednesday evening after just eight minutes with a side-footed effort into the corner following a clever flick from Myles Lewis-Skelly.

Port Vale held firm for the majority of the clash but were opened up late on by a superb Saliba pass into Leandro Trossard with the Belgium international skipping past several challenges before firing in Arsenal's second of the game. That win has seen a fourth round tie at home to Brighton set up.

Saka, who captained Arsenal in the continued injury absence of Martin Odegaard, came off for Max Dowman in the 63rd minute. Just before his withdrawal, Saka was left on the floor courtesy of a firm challenge from Rhys Walters.

When asked about that, Arteta confirmed it had nothing to do with his subsequent substitution. "No, it was planned, 60 minutes was the maximum," he admitted in a press conference.

"We had four, almost five players already in the line-up that we had to get him out for different reasons, especially load because they're coming from long periods out. So we planned for that and the good thing is that nobody got injured, so he has no muscular issues. So that's a very positive thing again."

Prior to all of that, Saka showed his true colours in an interaction with a non-football staff member. As captured by The Sun in a video from the stands, a groundsmen was struck in the leg by a shot during an attacking drill as part of Arsenal's warm-up.

While his teammates continued taking efforts, Saka put his arms out wide and appeared to try and put a stop to the shots in order to allow the groundsmen to put the finishing touches on the pitch. For a large portion of the clip, Saka is seen talking to the individual that was hit before later placing his hand on the Vale staff member's arm.

Despite that touch of class, Saka was booed by the home supporters when he got on the ball. It is highly unlikely any of them saw that video before kick-off with it very unclear exactly why he was not given the greatest of receptions by the Vale faithful.

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