Mikel Arteta believes Noni Madueke could "easily" have been awarded a spot-kick during Arsenal's Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
The Arsenal manager revealed he had spent 72 hours analysing penalty decisions from this season's competition ahead of the showpiece in Budapest.
"I watched all the penalties in the Champions League this season during the last 72 hours to understand what is a penalty and what's not, and that can easily be a penalty," Arteta said in his post-match press conference.
"What happened, happened and that's it. We need to do better, we have to improve and find different margins to get the outcomes that we want."
Arsenal players were insistent that Nuno Mendes fouled Noni Madueke
|REUTERS
The Gunners had enjoyed a dream opening in the Hungarian capital when Kai Havertz raced clear of the PSG defence and fired into the roof of the net just six minutes in.
However, Luis Enrique's side seized control thereafter, commanding 75 per cent of possession and pinning Arsenal back for extended periods.
Gabriel and William Saliba were forced into numerous crucial interventions as wave after wave of French attacks tested the Arsenal rearguard.
The equaliser arrived in the second half when Cristhian Mosquera, deputising at right-back for the injured Ben White, clumsily brought down Khvicha Kvaratskhelia inside the box. Ousmane Dembele converted the resulting penalty.
PSG came agonisingly close to winning in normal time, with Kvaratskhelia striking the woodwork and Vitinha threatening from distance.
💬 "It can easily be a penalty... the referee has made a decision and a different one with Mosquera - and yeah it's an important one."
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) May 30, 2026
Mikel Arteta reacts to losing in the UEFA Champions League final and that Noni Madueke penalty shout...
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Arteta introduced fresh legs in attack as his players tired, and the substitutions sparked a major penalty appeal when Madueke became entangled with Nuno Mendes in the area.
Referee Daniel Siebert dismissed Arsenal's protests, booking both Declan Rice and Arteta for their reactions.
Following a tense period of extra time, the contest went to spot-kicks. Eberechi Eze sent Arsenal's second penalty wide before Gabriel blazed his decisive effort over the crossbar and into the celebrating PSG supporters, handing the French champions a 4-3 shootout victory.
Martin Odegaard insisted the squad would rally around their teammates following the shootout agony.
Arsenal are DENIED a penalty in extra time! 🫣
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"It is our job to pick them up now," the Arsenal captain said. "We know what they have given to this team this season and we wouldn't be here without them."
Odegaard also praised PSG skipper Marquinhos, who consoled his fellow Brazilian Gabriel while his teammates celebrated wildly.
"Marquinhos is a gentleman," Odegaard added. "He's probably the most experienced players out there today. He's been on both sides of a final like this and he knows what we are going through right now."
Arteta offered generous praise for the victors, describing PSG as "the best team in the world" and crediting their individual quality.