Gabriel vows to take penalties again after Champions League final miss cost Arsenal the trophy

Gabriel has promised to take penalties again after his missed spot kick in the Champions League final handed the trophy to Paris Saint-Germain, as Arsenal prepare for a crucial Premier League trip to Nottingham Forest on Sunday.

The Brazilian centre-back blazed his effort over the bar in the shootout during the final in May, proving the decisive moment as PSG claimed the title. Despite the pain of that miss, Gabriel was unequivocal about his willingness to step forward again. “In the final anything can happen, and we did really well,” he said. “Of course, if I have another penalty, I will be there to take it. And my team-mates helped me a lot after this.”

Gabriel also credited Brazil teammate Marquinhos for offering comfort on the pitch in the immediate aftermath, rather than joining his PSG teammates in celebration. “It was brilliant for him to come to me,” Gabriel said. “Of course, he missed a penalty in a World Cup and he has experience from this moment. He said some words to me, and helped me a lot. I learned a lot from him, too.”

Meanwhile, Arteta has endorsed Lionel Messi’s assessment of teenage Arsenal prospect Max Dowman, who was named in the Argentina legend’s top ten list of rising Adidas athletes. “If Messi, who is the best ever player, says that — his eyes are, I think, better than anybody else’s. Hopefully he’s right,” Arteta said.

The Arsenal manager elaborated on what sets Dowman apart. “He’s got something special. In the few appearances that he had, he’s already done remarkable things. That’s somebody that is touched with a special gift. He’s a joy to watch. The way he moves, the way he touches the ball, the way he carries himself, it’s just different. And that’s what makes him unique.”

Arsenal return to Premier League action having beaten Leeds last week to recover from a surprise 3-0 defeat to Brighton before the international break. Arteta’s side face Nottingham Forest away on Sunday, with fixtures against Everton, Hull City, and a trip to Anfield to follow before the next international break — a sequence that offers a genuine opportunity to close the gap on Manchester City at the top of the table.