‘He wanted to take it’ – Gabriel’s first Arsenal penalty ends with heartbreakFigure caption, Gabriel blazes over penalty as PSG win Champions LeagueByKeifer MacDonaldBBC Sport journalistPublished1 hour agoThe defining image of Arsenal‘s Champions League final defeat was Gabriel standing with his head in his hands as he was consoled by Paris St-Germain captain and Brazil team-mate Marquinhos.
It was a cruel end to the defender’s first European final. His penalty, blasted over the crossbar, proved decisive as the Gunners suffered shootout heartbreak and PSG successfully defended their title.
For a player who has so often been Arsenal’s difference-maker this season, it was not the contribution he would have envisaged before the club’s first Champions League final since 2006.
It was the first penalty Gabriel had taken for Arsenal, with manager Mikel Arteta revealing the defender had “prepared and trained for this moment”.
“He wanted to take it,” Arteta stated. “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.”
It was a painful way for one of Arsenal’s standout performers of the season to bring his campaign to a close.
Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, former Arsenal defender Matt Upson called it “one of those John Terry moments”, referring to the 2008 Champions League final when the Chelsea captain had the chance to win the final in a shootout, but slipped as he struck the ball, which hit the post as Manchester United went on to claim the title.
