Bukayo Saka was forced to warn Conor McGregor to “be careful” after the UFC star kicked and grappled the Arsenal winger in a bizarre incident. The duo met on the pitch after the Gunners’ 2-0 Champions League victory over Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.
Saka scored in the triumph and was greeted by McGregor on the Emirates Stadium turf after the match. In a video shared on Instagram by the Irishman, he is clearly keen to show the Arsenal star some martial arts moves and they initially begin to shadow box.
But McGregor takes the encounter a step further and aims a tame kick at Saka’s thigh. The 36-year-old then aims a slightly harder kick at the England international, who is seen laughing throughout.
McGregor kicks Saka again, this time higher on his body. The 22-year-old then steps away and holds out his hand as if to gesture for McGregor to stop.
They then share a warm embrace before McGregor decides to grapple Saka, nearly bringing him to the ground. Although he finds the incident amusing, the Gunners player is clearly slightly concerned and tells McGregor: “Be careful, be careful, man!”
Saka is then seen walking off camera and is heard quipping: “He could have done my ACL like that!”
McGregor laughs into the camera and seems to say: “I did him!”
According to the Irish Mirror, McGregor was soon asked to leave the pitch by security. He was not a guest of Arsenal’s and is claimed to have secured a ticket through a third party. His Instagram also shows him pictured alongside Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice and Love Island contestant Luca Bish.
Saka was influential in the victory over PSG, with his inswinging free-kick from the right wing going all the way into Gianluigi Donnarumma’s net. Arsenal had opened the scoring in the 20th minute through Kai Havertz’s header, with Saka’s strike coming 15 minutes later.
Head coach Mikel Arteta will be glad that his prized asset came out of his meeting with McGregor unscathed. Saka has started all nine of the club’s matches so far this season, scoring two goals and providing five assists.
Lee Carsley has included the Arsenal academy graduate in his England squad for upcoming Nations League matches against Greece and Finland. It comes after Saka started both of the Three Lions’ matches during the September international window.
