Arsenal attacker Bukayo Saka has taken to Instagram to apologise for his penalty miss in Sunday's 2-2 draw with West Ham United in the Premier League.
For the second week in succession, the Gunners let a 2-0 advantage slip from their grasp in another damaging blow to their Premier League title hopes at the London Stadium.
Mikel Arteta's men stormed into a healthy lead thanks to Gabriel Jesus and Martin Odegaard's goals inside the opening 10 minutes, but the Gunners showed no real urgency to kill the game off.
West Ham were handed a lifeline towards the end of the first half, as Said Benrahma slotted home from the spot after Gabriel Magalhaes had scythed down Lucas Paqueta, before Arsenal were awarded their own spot kick early in the second period.
Gabriel Martinelli's effort struck the outstretched arm of Michail Antonio, and David Coote immediately pointed to the spot, where Saka would endeavour to restore Arsenal's two-goal advantage.
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However, in similar fashion to Mohamed Salah's failed spot kick during Arsenal's draw with Liverpool last weekend, Saka went for placement in the bottom corner, but his effort flashed wide of the post.
Only two minutes later, West Ham deservedly levelled through Jarrod Bowen, as Arsenal saw their lead at the top over Manchester City - who have a game in hand - cut down to four points.
Saka, whose most recent penalty miss before Sunday came in the Euro 2020 final, held his hands up at the final whistle and vowed to "do everything" to rectify his mistake.
"Regardless of the outcome, I'll always accept my responsibility. Apologies Gunners, I'll do everything I can to make it right," the 21-year-old wrote on Instagram.
Since fluffing his lines at Wembley for the Three Lions, Saka scored four successive penalties against Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Manchester City, and Arteta has insisted that he will continue to trust the attacker from the spot.
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However, the Gunners boss also admitted that his side "lost purpose" and were made to pay for "huge" errors, having noticeably dropped down a couple of gears after gleaning a 2-0 advantage.
An unwanted piece of club history was also made on Sunday, as Arsenal have now surrendered back-to-back 2-0 leads for the first time in the Premier League era, also doing so in a four-goal thriller with Liverpool last weekend.
The current leaders are only the fifth side in Premier League history to do so, and they are now without a clean sheet in five successive matches across all competitions.
Arteta's men return to home comforts on Friday night, as basement side Southampton visit the Emirates before a trip to the Etihad to face Man City in a season-defining top-of-the-table showdown on April 26.
Ben Knapton
