BUDAPEST — The defining image of Arsenal’s Champions League final nightmare was Gabriel, head buried in his hands, consoled not by his own teammates but by PSG captain Marquinhos, his Brazilian compatriot. The center-back, so often a pillar of strength in Arsenal’s remarkable season, had just blazed his penalty over the crossbar, handing Paris Saint-Germain a 5-4 shootout victory and a second consecutive European crown. It was the cruelest end to an otherwise stellar campaign.
Arsenal’s first Champions League final since 2006 began like a dream. Inside six minutes at the Puskas Arena, Kai Havertz thumped a rising shot into the roof of the net, sending the red-and-white section into raptures. With the Premier League title already secured, the Gunners were chasing a rare double last achieved by Manchester United in 1999 and 2008 and Manchester City in 2023. The early goal seemed to validate their growing status as one of Europe’s elite.
But PSG, as defending champions, slowly asserted their technical dominance, bossing possession with their feared front three of Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Ousmane Dembele, and Desire Doue. Yet Arsenal’s defense, anchored by Gabriel, stood firm. The Brazilian made a match-high 13 clearances, repelling wave after wave of attacks and consistently stepping in to deny clear chances. His performance was a testament to his rise as one of the world’s best defenders.
The turning point came just after the hour mark when Dembele converted a penalty after a contentious foul, leveling the tie. From there, both sides retreated into caution, the stakes too high to risk an open game. Neither goalkeeper was truly tested as extra time drifted by, the tension crescendoing toward the inevitability of a shootout.
When Eberechi Eze stuttered and dragged his penalty wide, PSG seized the advantage, but David Raya immediately clawed Arsenal back into it by saving Nuno Mendes’ effort. The momentum swung until it settled on Gabriel. Having never taken a spot-kick for Arsenal, he strode forward with conviction, but his strike sailed wildly over the bar and into the sea of celebrating PSG fans. The miss proved decisive.
Mikel Arteta later revealed that Gabriel had volunteered for the responsibility. “He wanted to take it,” the Arsenal manager said. “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 decision to let Gabriel take one underscored the squad’s trust in his temperament, even if the outcome was heartbreaking.
Declan Rice, speaking to TNT Sports, offered unwavering support for both Gabriel and Eze. “To miss a penalty in a Champions League final, obviously it’s not nice. But we love them and we’re with them,” Rice said. “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.”
The miss invited comparisons to John Terry’s slip in the 2008 final, as noted by former Arsenal defender Matt Upson. “It’s one of those John Terry moments,” Upson said on BBC Radio 5 Live. “Gabriel gave everything for his team. He showed the mentality and courage to step forward and take responsibility, which is all you can ask of any player. It is desperately sad for him, but he strikes me as someone who will recover quickly and use it as motivation.”
Gabriel’s overall contribution this season cannot be overshadowed by a single miss. He started 48 of Arsenal’s 63 matches, contributing nine goals and assists, more influential than even some of the club’s attacking stars. His dramatic 96th-minute winner against Newcastle in September epitomized his will to win. “He has been invaluable and, quite rightly, is in the conversation for PFA Player of the Year,” former Manchester City defender Nedum Onuoha told BBC Sport. “Arsenal would not have won the Premier League without him. Unfortunately, he has experienced what every player dreads—missing the penalty that decides a final.”
For Arsenal, the loss is devastating but not defining. The Premier League title they lifted earlier this month remains a monumental achievement, ending a two-decade drought for a league crown. This final, painful as it is, should serve as fuel for a squad still young and hungry. With Arteta at the helm and a core of players entering their prime, the Gunners are now firmly established among the European heavyweights, and this heartbreak may only sharpen their appetite for future glory.
As the PSG players cavorted with the trophy and Arsenal fans lingered in the Budapest night, the sight of Gabriel wiping away tears will stay with the club long after. Yet the support from his teammates and manager suggests a collective resolve to turn this agony into a springboard. After years of near-misses, Arsenal are no longer just participants—they are contenders. And contenders learn, often through painful lessons, what it takes to win.
Based on reporting from BBC Sport.