Top News

Arsenal’s quest for European supremacy ended in heartbreak as they suffered a penalty shootout defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final. Despite the painful loss in Budapest, manager Mikel Arteta has shed light on the reasoning behind his penalty taker choices, after Brazilian centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes missed the decisive spot-kick.

Arteta explains Gabriel’s inclusion in the shootout

Following the 4-3 defeat at the Puskas Arena, many questioned the decision to have Gabriel as the fifth penalty taker. The Brazilian defender took responsibility for the crucial kick but sent his shot over the crossbar, handing the title to the French champions. Arteta revealed that Gabriel had volunteered to take that high-pressure penalty since the team’s regular takers were no longer on the pitch by that stage.

Speaking to reporters after the match, Arteta stated, “He (Gabriel) genuinely wanted to take the fifth penalty. We had prepared and practised for such moments. Normally, our designated penalty takers are Bukayo [Saka], Martin [Odegaard], and Kai [Havertz]. We anticipated that if the game went into extra time and penalties, different players would have to step up. You can see in training how confident Ebz [Eberechi Eze] is from the spot — he rarely misses. But it’s a different matter to deliver under that kind of pressure. Unfortunately, we couldn’t replicate the precision and composure that we usually have, and that’s why we didn’t come out on top.”

Rice stands by his teammates

Inside the dressing room, the mood was understandably sombre, but Declan Rice was quick to speak up in support of his teammates. Both Gabriel and Eze failed to score from the spot, yet the England international insisted that they should not be blamed for the defeat.

“It’s gutting. Missing a penalty in a Champions League final is never easy. But we love them. That’s football — these things happen. They won’t be the last players to miss in a final. Everyone has missed at some point. Without those two this season, we wouldn’t have lifted the Premier League trophy. It’s cruel, but we’ll take the positives,” said Rice.

Arteta refuses to make excuses

While the shootout dominated the headlines, Arteta also reflected on key moments during the match, notably a late challenge on Noni Madueke that went unpunished. However, the manager refused to dwell on refereeing decisions or speculate on how things might have turned out differently. “If, if, if — that’s not what happened, and that’s it,” Arteta said firmly. “We need to do better, improve, and find new margins to achieve the results we want.” Despite the disappointment, Arteta enters the summer as a Premier League-winning manager, ending Arsenal’s 22-year league title drought and reaffirming their status as a force to be reckoned with under his guidance.

Celebrations to go on despite the heartbreak

The defeat in Budapest will not derail Arsenal’s planned celebrations in London, where the club will mark their Premier League triumph with fans. Arteta expressed deep appreciation for the supporters’ unwavering backing throughout a challenging campaign. Though the Champions League trophy slipped out of reach, the Spaniard believes the bond between the team and its fans has never been stronger.

“Our supporters mean everything to us, and the players feel the same way. We are incredibly thankful for the loyalty they’ve shown all season, especially during difficult moments. Winning the league after 22 years is something special. It hurts that we couldn’t win tonight — I can only imagine how much it would have meant. We all wanted it so much, but tomorrow will still be a beautiful day,” Arteta concluded.