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Mikel Arteta explained why Gabriel took Arsenal’s decisive penalty in the Champions League final, insisting the defender had prepared for the moment.
Gabriel will be haunted for a good while after his missed penalty drove the final nail in Arsenal’s coffin in the UCL final (AP)
For a few agonising seconds, Gabriel stood frozen with his hands on his head as Paris Saint-Germain celebrated around him.
The Arsenal defender had just experienced the cruelest moment of his career. His missed penalty proved decisive as the Gunners fell to PSG in a dramatic Champions League final shootout, allowing the French giants to retain their European crown.
It was a painful ending for a player who had been one of Arsenal’s most consistent performers throughout the season.
Yet the biggest question after the final wasn’t just about the miss itself — it was why Gabriel was taking such a crucial penalty in the first place.
Arteta Explains Surprise Decision
The choice caught many by surprise.
Gabriel had never taken a competitive penalty for Arsenal before, yet he was entrusted with what ultimately became the most important kick of the shootout.
Speaking after the defeat, Mikel Arteta revealed the decision was far from spontaneous.
“He wanted to take it,” Arteta said to reporters.
“Normally the penalty takers would be Bukayo [Saka]Martin [Odegaard] and Kai [Havertz]. But we knew if the game went to extra-time and penalties, different players would have to step forward.”
Arteta also stressed that Gabriel had specifically prepared for the possibility.
“He wanted to take it. He prepared and trained for this moment.”
Arsenal’s Penalty Plans Were Forced To Change
By the time the match reached penalties, several of the club’s regular spot-kick specialists were no longer on the pitch. Saka, Odegaard and Havertz had all been substituted before the end of regulation time, forcing Arsenal to rely on alternative takers.
That left Gabriel among the players willing to shoulder the responsibility.
Unfortunately for Arsenal, the gamble didn’t pay off.
More Than One Miss
While Gabriel’s miss will inevitably dominate the headlines because it proved decisive, he was not the only Arsenal player to fail from the spot.
Eberechi Eze also squandered a penalty in a moment that arguably set the tone for the shootout.
The midfielder attempted a slow, stuttering run-up before striking his effort wide after PSG goalkeeper Matvey Safonov refused to commit early. The hesitation appeared to disrupt Eze’s balance, and the chance was gone.
In the end, Arsenal’s Champions League dream wasn’t ended by one penalty alone. But Gabriel’s miss became the defining image of a heartbreaking night.
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