Arteta reveals Gabriel volunteered for the penalty that ended Arsenal's Champions League dream

Gabriel Magalhães volunteered to take the penalty that ultimately ended Arsenal’s Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest, manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed. The Brazilian defender stepped up for the fifth kick of the shootout needing to score to force sudden death, but sent his effort over the crossbar, handing PSG consecutive European crowns.

“He wanted to take it,” Arteta said of Gabriel. “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 context behind Gabriel’s selection was shaped by Arteta’s substitutions during extra time. The Arsenal manager made six changes as the match went beyond 90 minutes, with Odegaard, Saka and Havertz all replaced and therefore ineligible to participate in the shootout. It was the first penalty Gabriel had taken for the club.

Eberechi Eze also missed the target for Arsenal, while Viktor Gyökeres, Declan Rice and Gabriel Martinelli all converted. The two misses proved fatal, with PSG advancing to claim the trophy.

Declan Rice was quick to defend both players after what he described as a “cruel” conclusion to the campaign. “To miss a penalty in a Champions League final, obviously it’s not nice,” the midfielder said. “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 also pointed to the contributions both players had made across the season. “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.”