Arsenal Defender Gabriel Misses Deciding Penalty as Paris Saint-Germain Retain Champions League Title
Paris Saint-Germain successfully defended their UEFA Champions League title after a penalty shootout victory over Arsenal in Budapest, with Gunners defender Gabriel blasting the decisive spot-kick over the crossbar. The Brazilian center-back’s miss handed PSG a second consecutive European crown and condemned Arsenal to a heartbreaking defeat in their first Champions League final since 2006. The match ended 1-1 after extra time before the shootout settled the contest at the Puskas Arena.
Decisive Penalty Miss
Gabriel, who had never taken a penalty for Arsenal, stepped up as the fifth shooter in the shootout with the score tied at 4-4 after four successful kicks from each side. His attempt soared over the crossbar and into the delirious PSG supporters, sealing the outcome. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta confirmed the defender had prepared for the moment, stating: “He wanted to take it. 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.”
The miss proved decisive after an early advantage for PSG when Arsenal’s Eberechi Eze stroked his penalty wide following a stuttering run-up, while Gunners goalkeeper David Raya saved Nuno Mendes’ effort. Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Arsenal defender Matt Upson compared the moment to John Terry’s slip in the 2008 Champions League final, when the Chelsea captain struck the post on his decisive attempt as Manchester United claimed the title.
Match Narrative
Arsenal opened the scoring inside six minutes when Kai Havertz smashed the ball high into the roof of the net past PSG goalkeeper Matvey Safonov. The Gunners’ supporters were in dreamland as their side dominated possession, keeping PSG’s feared front three of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembele and Desire Doue largely under control. At the heart of Arsenal’s defensive effort was Gabriel, who made more clearances than any other player on the pitch (13) as the Gunners chased the rare feat of a Premier League and Champions League double—achieved only by Manchester United (1999 and 2008) and Manchester City (2023) since 1992.
PSG equalized from the penalty spot through Ousmane Dembele, turning the contest into a must-not-lose affair for both sides. Neither goalkeeper was seriously tested as tension rose in Hungary and the game drifted towards a shootout.
Player Reactions
Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice addressed the miss on TNT Sports, saying: “To miss a penalty in a Champions League final, obviously it’s not nice. But we love them and we’re with them. It happens in football. They’re not going to be the last players to miss penalties in finals.” Rice added: “Everyone has missed a penalty and without those two this season we wouldn’t have won the Premier League, that’s for sure. Gabriel, I’ve run out of words for him as a person and as a player. Eze has scored some crucial goals for us this season. It happens. It’s football and it’s cruel. We take the positives and keep going.”
The defining image of the night showed Gabriel standing with his head in his hands as he was consoled by PSG captain and Brazil team-mate Marquinhos, who chose to comfort his compatriot rather than celebrate with his own team. It was a cruel end to the defender’s first European final, capping a campaign where he had so often been Arsenal’s difference-maker.
Context
The miss drew comparisons to John Terry’s slip in the 2008 Champions League final, where the Chelsea captain’s penalty hit the post as Manchester United went on to claim the title. Other notable penalty shootout heartbreaks in European finals include Chelsea’s loss to Manchester United in 2008 and Liverpool’s defeat to AC Milan in 2005 after a 3-3 draw.