Arsenal goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale says Bukayo Saka is a stronger player for last summer's Euros penalty failure.

Saka missed in the final's losing shootout against Italy.

Asked how Saka had handled the fallout, Ramsdale, who was part of the Euros squad, said: “I'm trying to find the right words... 'impeccably', probably.

"The kid's a lovely boy, he has time for everyone, works super hard throughout every week. Very, very rarely misses a training session and used all that motivation of criticism. But also more so the love that everyone gave him, gave him an extra boost.

“Don't forget he had the pressure of the whole football club on him last year — him and Emile Smith Rowe were our main guys — and he has dealt with that, he's dealt with everything else. He is thriving and I can't wait to see him thrive over here.

“Absolutely, there is no doubt [he's stronger] for that, off the pitch and on it. He's a more complete person."

Mikel Arteta, the Arsenal manager, has said the squad helped Saka through the situation and Ramsdale, who joined the club that same summer, revealed he used the pain of being relegated with Sheffield United to support his new teammate.

“[My role was] more through the criticism side," Ramsdale said. “That was probably the first time he'd received it.

“I got relegated and signing for Arsenal was a difficult period so I was able to talk him through that and also when we missed out on the top four he felt like it was all his fault because he couldn't provide for us. I was just able to reflect that the season before they finished eighth, this season we finished fifth, and if we go another step again we will be in the top four.

“It's that perspective of: it's a game of football and there's a lot more to it.

“These tough moments, where certain people have a different outlook and I've been able to see from the other side," Ramsdale added.

“It's a game of football, so I've been able to live my life as well. If I was too emotionally involved with the football, I'd have struggled to mentally carry on, so it's something I really needed. I wouldn't have liked for [relegation] to happen twice, but it did, but I'm sitting here and I have that strong backbone which, fundamentally, is my base."