Arsenal’s Gabriel describes penalty miss as team holds trophy parade

Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhaes has described his costly penalty miss in the UEFA Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain as “painful” while expressing pride in his team’s achievements throughout the season.

The Gunners entered the final in Budapest aiming to complete a memorable domestic and European double after securing the Premier League title. 

Mikel Arteta’s side made the perfect start when Kai Havertz opened the scoring just six minutes into the contest. 

However, PSG fought back in the second half, with Ousmane Dembele converting from the penalty spot to level the match and force extra time.

With neither side able to find a winner after 120 minutes, the final was decided by a penalty shootout. 

Arsenal appeared to have gained an advantage when goalkeeper David Raya saved Nuno Mendes’ effort, but Eberechi Eze’s miss brought the French champions back into contention. 

The decisive moment arrived when Gabriel stepped up to take Arsenal’s fifth penalty, only to send his effort over the crossbar and hand PSG a second consecutive Champions League title.

Following the defeat, the Brazilian centre-back took to social media to thank supporters and reflect on the campaign. 

Gabriel admitted the miss would be difficult to forget but stressed that he remained proud of the team’s accomplishments, particularly their long-awaited Premier League triumph. 

He also urged fans to celebrate the club’s successful season despite the heartbreak in Europe.

Arteta was quick to defend his defender after the match, revealing that Gabriel had volunteered to take the crucial penalty. 

The Arsenal manager explained that several of the team’s regular spot-kick specialists were unavailable by the time the shootout arrived and praised the courage shown by those who stepped forward under immense pressure. 

Arteta insisted the squad had prepared extensively for the possibility of penalties but acknowledged that fine margins ultimately decided the outcome.

Despite the disappointment of falling short in Europe, Arsenal’s attention quickly shifted to celebrations back in London. 

Thousands of supporters gathered across north London for the club’s Premier League title parade, commemorating their first league championship in more than two decades. 

While the pain of the Champions League final defeat remains fresh, Arsenal’s players and fans will look back on the 2025-26 campaign as one of the most successful seasons in the club’s modern history.