.png)
Bukayo Saka has broken his silence after Conor McGregor was accused of "taking it too far" with him on the Emirates Stadium pitch.
UFC star McGregor was in attendance for Arsenal's 2-0 Champions League victory on 1 October and saw Saka bag the second.
The Irishman then ended up on the pitch having a kickabout with both Saka and Declan Rice, with footage being widely shared on his social media.
In one video, McGregor can be seen sparring with England star Saka, engage in a playing-fight but catching him with a kick to the back of his leg and then his stomach.
Saka, understandably, looked a little afraid of the two-weight UFC champion and told him to "be careful".
Advert
He then faked grappling him and taking him down before shaking his hand.
Some expressed concern for Saka, but he was stressed that his link-up with McGregor was in good spirits.
Taking to his Instagram story, Saka attached a picture of the pair - with the caption: "Good to meet you @thenotoriousmma. No harm done just a friendly spar."
McGregor was not a guest of Arsenal's and according to The Times, he did not have permission to enter the pitch.
He was asked to go back inside the stadium and there was concern expressed as to how McGregor came to be practicing MMA moves on one of their key players.
A report said Arsenal launched an internal enquiry into the matter and found that McGregor and his entourage got last-minute hospitality tickets through 1 Access - a company with a box to host stars at the Emirates.
The box is situated near an area where players often congregate afterwards and it was there that McGregor came to be in the company of Arsenal players.
Arsenal are considering their matchday protocols and also keen to distance themselves from McGregor given previous controversies.
Topics: Conor McGregor, Bukayo Saka, Arsenal, UFC
Josh Lawless