Mikel Arteta explains penalty shootout decision and why Gabriel took Arsenal's fifth spot-kick

Arsenal fans react as Gabriel misses Arsenal's fifth penalty

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GBNEWS/4THEFANSFANPARKINLONDON

Lewis Henderson

By Lewis Henderson


Published: 31/05/2026

- 10:12

The Gunners came agonisingly close to winning their first Champions League

Mikel Arteta has explained his penalty shootout decision and why Gabriel took Arsenal's fifth spot-kick.

The Gunners lost to PSG on penalties 4-3 after drawing 1-1 with the European champions, but missed two crucial spot-kicks.


Both Gabriel and Eberechi Eze missed the target from 12 yards, with PSG goalkeeper Matvey Safanov not having to make a save as Arsenal lost the shootout.

Speaking about why the Brazilian centre-back was the fifth taker, Arteta said: "He wanted to take the fifth penalty. We have prepared and trained for this moment.

Mikel Arteta

Mikel Arteta explained why Gabriel was his fifth spot-kick taker

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REUTERS

"Normally, the penalty takers would be [the already substituted] Bukayo [Saka], Martin [Odegaard] and Kai [Havertz], and we knew that if it goes to extra time, the penalty takers would be different players.

"In training, Ebz doesn't miss any penalties. But then you have to do it in this moment.

"And we've been unfortunate not to have the same precision and efficiency that PSG had, and that's the reason that we haven't won it."

Arsenal will leave Budapest this morning ahead of their open-top bus parade in the afternoon to celebrate their first Premier League title in 22 years.

Gabriel

Gabriel missed Arsenal's fifth penalty, putting his effort over the bar

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REUTERS

Arteta continued: "First of all you have to go through that pain, digest it and turn it into fuel to improve and to reach a different level because it will demand a different level with the quality that is around Europe.

"I want to congratulate PSG, Luis [Enrique] in particular, because they are, in my opinion, the best team in the world."

Giving his viewpoint on whether the Gunners should have been awarded a penalty in extra time after Nuno Mendes came together with Noni Madueke, the Spaniard said: "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.

"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."

Eberechi Eze

It was heartbreak for Eze, who dragged his penalty wide

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REUTERS

Martin Odegaard insisted the squad would rally around their teammates following the shootout agony.

"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 praised PSG skipper Marquinhos, who consoled his fellow Brazilian Gabriel while his teammates celebrated wildly.

Martin Odegaard

Martin Odegaard insisted the squad would rally around their teammates

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REUTERS

Odegaard said: "Marquinhos is a gentleman. 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.