Penalty kicks can be nerve-wracking enough, but imagine having your England teammate whisper something in your ear right before you take the shot.
That’s exactly what appeared to happen during Arsenal’s dramatic Champions League win over Real Madrid — and fans are now wondering if Jude Bellingham played mind games that led to Bukayo Saka’s rare miss.
A Tense Start at the Bernabeu
Arsenal entered the second leg of their quarter-final clash in a strong position, having built up a three-goal advantage.
Things looked like they might get even better early on when the Gunners were awarded a penalty after Mikel Merino was brought down in the box by Madrid’s Raul Asencio just ten minutes in.
Madrid’s players didn’t take the decision well, and neither did the home crowd.
The Bernabeu was roaring with jeers, and among the chaos, Jude Bellingham saw his chance to disrupt Saka’s rhythm.
Whispered Words and a Costly Miss
Just as Saka was preparing to take the penalty, Bellingham leaned in and whispered something to him.
What exactly he said remains a mystery, but it may have gotten in Saka’s head.
The Arsenal star — usually cool and clinical from the spot — went for a cheeky chip. Thibaut Courtois read it like a book and made the save.
It was a rare miss for Saka, and all the more surprising considering how composed he usually is under pressure.
Not the First Time Bellingham Has Tried This
This wasn’t Bellingham’s first attempt at some penalty psychology.
Last season, during a big clash between Real Madrid and Bayern Munich, the midfielder pulled a similar stunt on Harry Kane.
He muttered something to Kane as he stood over the ball, though Kane managed to block him out and score anyway.
Spanish journalist Guillem Balague even revealed that Bellingham had guessed Kane’s direction, saying: “You’re going to kick it left.”
When asked about the moment, Kane admitted he heard Bellingham but chose to ignore it completely, staying locked in on the task.
Courtois’ Save Didn’t Change the Outcome
Despite Courtois’ big save, Real Madrid never really looked like turning the tie around.
Arsenal responded in the second half with a stunning chip from none other than Saka himself, redeeming his earlier miss in the most poetic way possible.
Madrid equalized shortly after through Vinicius Jr, but it felt like too little, too late.
Martinelli Seals the Deal for the Gunners
In stoppage time, Gabriel Martinelli raced through Madrid’s defence and calmly slotted the ball past Courtois to make it 2-1 on the night and seal Arsenal’s place in the Champions League semi-finals.
It’s only the third time in Arsenal’s history that they’ve reached this stage of the competition, and manager Mikel Arteta now joins Arsène Wenger as the only other boss to guide them this far in Europe.
PSG Up Next for Arsenal
Now the Gunners turn their attention to a massive semi-final showdown against Paris Saint-Germain.
The first leg is set for April 19 at the Emirates Stadium, with the return leg in Paris on May 7.
If Arsenal can keep up this momentum — and perhaps avoid any more whispered distractions — they might just have a real shot at European glory.