Rice rallies Gabriel and Eze after Arsenal lose Champions League final on penalties to PSG

Arsenal lost the Champions League final to Paris Saint-Germain on penalties at the Puskas Arena on Wednesday, with defender Gabriel firing the decisive fifth kick over the crossbar to end the club’s hopes of a historic Double. Eberechi Eze had also missed in the shootout, leaving PSG to become only the second team in the modern era to retain the Champions League.

Kai Havertz had given Arsenal the lead before Ousmane Dembele equalised from the penalty spot, forcing the final into a shootout. Goalkeeper David Raya saved from Nuno Mendes, and Viktor Gyokeres, Declan Rice and Gabriel Martinelli all converted, but the misses from Eze and Gabriel proved decisive.

Rice was quick to defend both players after the final whistle. “Without them two this season, we wouldn’t have won the Premier League. That’s for sure,” he said. “Gabriel… I’ve run out of words for him. As a person, as a player. And Eze as well. The crucial goals he’s come up with for us this year. It happens. It’s football and it’s cruel. But look, we take the positives and we keep going.”

The midfielder acknowledged the pain of the defeat while urging perspective. “We’re all gutted. It’s a Champions League final. The emotions and the stakes are so high. We took the game to penalties. It’s a lottery. Some of the best teams ever lost on penalties in finals. We were on the receiving end of that tonight. But we win together, we lose together. I’m so proud of this group.”

Rice also paid tribute to PSG, who have endured repeated near-misses in European competition before finally claiming the trophy. “PSG are a great team, great manager, great individuals. They’ve lost loads over the years and obviously now they’re having their time. And I feel like that’s going to keep happening with us.”

PSG forward Desire Doue reflected on the win with a note of humility. “We are so proud, so happy, so grateful. It was a tough game against a very good team. As a team, as a family, I think we deserve that. We want to say thank you.” When asked whether PSG could become one of the greatest teams ever, Doue added: “We have to stay humble. We have to work again. We are a young team. We want more.”

Former Arsenal defender Matt Upson noted that Arteta’s side came remarkably close despite being outplayed for large portions of the match. Arsenal have never won the Champions League, and this defeat extends one of the longest waits for European football’s biggest prize among the continent’s elite clubs.