Bukayo Saka was in the thick of the action as Arsenal booked their place in the Champions League semi-finals. Here's a closer look at his life away from the pitch
Bukayo Saka played a pivotal role in steering Arsenal towards the Champions League semi-finals on Wednesday night.
The Gunners, armed with a three-goal lead, faced off against Real Madrid in the second leg of their quarter-final clash at the Bernabeu. Despite their advantage, they would have been mindful of the reigning champions' knack for pulling off spectacular comebacks at their home ground.
The North Londoners' nerves were put to the test when Saka's penalty was saved by Thibaut Courtois in the 10th minute, giving the Spanish giants renewed hope. However, the England starlet kept his composure, finding himself behind Madrid's defence in the 65th minute and coolly chipping the ball over the shot stopper.
Although Madrid managed to level the score shortly after via Vinicius Junior, Gabriel Martinelli sealed the deal for Mikel Arteta's men at the death through a remarkable solo run and finish. It was indeed a Champions League night to remember for Saka, who also had a run-in with a Real Madrid veteran during the game.
Half-time hustle
As the teams retreated for half-time, Saka found himself face-to-face with seasoned full-back Dani Carvajal. The 33-year-old wasn't part of Carlo Ancelotti's squad but somehow ended up near the tunnel, confronting Saka as the players headed for the dressing room.
Carvajal grabbed Saka by the neck and held onto his arm as the youngster tried to walk away, before the tussle was finally broken up when fellow Arsenal players and staff stepped in. Spanish publication Marca has reported that Carvajal was upset with Saka's 'disrespectful' Panenka penalty attempt in the first half.
However, the seasoned defender could now be facing a UEFA ban as he should not have been in the technical area during the match and was later spotted watching the second half from a corporate box. This isn't the first time Carvajal has had a problem with the Arsenal academy product either.
In the Euro 2024 final last summer, Carvajal tripped Saka at the beginning of a counter-attack. The Englishman and captain Harry Kane called for the full-back to be cautioned, but when the referee decided against a yellow card, Carvajal made a crying gesture towards the pair.
Private relationship
As Saka relished guiding Arsenal to the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 2009, his girlfriend Tolami Benson was there cheering him on. The pair have been together since 2020, and Tolami was seen soaking up the atmosphere at the Bernabeu alongside Arsenal forward Leandro Trossard's wife, Laura Trossard Hilven.
The 24-year-old was previously seen supporting her partner throughout Euro 2024. Glamour has reported in the past that Tolami and Saka are extremely private about their relationship, evidenced by the fact that they do not follow each other on Instagram or post pictures together as a couple.
Tolami completed her degree in Public Relations and Media from the University of Birmingham in 2022, and recently held a position as a senior planning executive, which she left in January, as per her LinkedIn profile. She also has an impressive following of 205k on Instagram.
New family home
Saka spent his childhood in Greenford and was enrolled in Arsenal's academy at the tender age of seven. While being moulded by the Gunners, Saka also sharpened his skills by playing against his father and older brother on the grass outside their family home in Ealing.
In 2019, Saka moved out of his family's semi-detached house when he purchased his first property in Hertfordshire. According to the Daily Mail, Saka paid £2.3million for his six-bedroom mansion, located closer to Arsenal's London Colney training ground.
However, he wasn't separated from his family for long as they soon joined him in his new residence. The house came equipped with a spa and walk-in wardrobes, but underwent renovations after Saka took ownership.
Saka bought the property shortly after his 18th birthday, having signed his first professional contract a year prior. Despite his early success in football, his parents emphasised the value of education, and he notably left school with four A*s and three As in his GCSEs.