Arsenal will aim to return even stronger next season after losing the Champions League final to PSG, with Gabriel breaking his silence after his missed penalty contributed to the defeat and insisting he must move on.
The Brazilian defender has been in outstanding form throughout the season and was included in the Champions League Team of the Season, underlining his importance to Mikel Arteta’s side. He has remained one of Arsenal’s most reliable performers, consistently delivering at a high level and earning the trust of the manager and supporters alike.
Gabriel stepped up for what proved to be the decisive penalty in the shootout, but his effort went over the bar, bringing the contest to an end and handing PSG European success. It was a heartbreaking conclusion for the Gunners after a tightly contested final.
Penalty incident in the final
The moment placed significant pressure on Gabriel, who had the responsibility of keeping Arsenal alive in the shootout. His miss proved decisive as PSG secured victory after a closely fought match.
Arsenal will now look to respond next season and put the disappointment behind them, with the squad determined to regroup and improve after falling just short on the European stage.
Reaction and message of determination
Gabriel reflected on the setback by sharing a message on social media, acknowledging the disappointment while highlighting pride in the team and their achievements throughout the season. The post also underlined the importance of supporters and the journey they shared across the campaign.
He also emphasised the need to turn the experience into motivation for the future, reinforcing a mindset focused on resilience and improvement as the squad prepares for the next season, saying
“It’s painful, but I’m proud of this team and everything we achieved together this season.
Thank you to our incredible fans for your support every step of the way. You deserve to celebrate this journey with us and enjoy the parade today!
See you next season!!!”
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What a great player and man.
Hope he does well for his country and here’s looking forward to watching him play for the PL CHAMPIONS next season!!
He wanted it to be about himself,very selfish and self-centred player.He cost us the champions league and felt little emotion.I feel so sorry for Raya after all his efforts.
Matthew, give your head a wobble. It was obvious that no one else wanted to take it, otherwise someone else would’ve.
Arteta said Gabriel demanded to take the fifth penalty even before the shootout began,that means he wanted all the Glory.so you can defend him all you want but i stand by my perception of him as a selfish self-centred egocentric player that wasted an opportunity that took us 20 years to get.
Matthew, you really need to stop making things up. Mikel never said that Gabriel “demanded” to take the fifth penalty ! He said that Gabriel said he would take the fifth pen.
Why not blame Eze for his missed effort, or Raya for not saving more penalties ?
Raya’s save canceled out Eze’s miss hence his miss was rendered irrelevant . Perhaps you should try listening to the Arteta’s interview again to hear him say Gabriel took upon himself to take the fifth kick.
While it did indeed cancel the miss by Eze, a couple more saves would’ve meant there would be no need for Gabriel to take his kick.
I listened to the interview Mikel gave about the penalty kicks a few times, and Mikel said that Gabriel said he would take a penalty. Nowhere did he say that Gabriel “took it upon himself to take the fifth kick.”
So why didn’t he take the first penalty then Matthew?
Surely that would have really put him in the limelight and with nothing like the ores sure he had taking the fifth one?!
Sir Ken, the fifth kick is always reserved for the best players.
Well Matthew, as only one player can take the fifth penalty and it has to be the best player, out of those left, who would you say was the best player?
I might be wrong, but I always assumed the best penalty or free kick taker got his team off to the perfect start.
Matthew,
You slate Gabriel, and then say you feel sorry for Raya after all his efforts.
Now Raya has been brilliant for Arsenal, but if you just take the penalty shoot-out alone, Raya didn’t exactly cover himself in glory did he. Look at the penalty’s again. Of the 6 he faced in the game, including the one in normal time. He dived so early on 5 of them, he made the penalty takers mind up for him.
Now I’ll say it again, Raya has been superb for Arsenal, but not in the penalty shoot-out he wasn’t.
And as for you having a go at Gabriel, at least he stepped up and took one. Where was Madueke.
Raya did his job by saving the penalty immediately Eze missed but could not do the same for Gabriel as his was the last kick.
Matthew,
So Raya makes a save after the Eze miss, does nothing in the other 4 and you give him a free pass.
And in some eyes Gabriel is the villain. At least Gabriel had the minerals to take one.
Someone had to take that kick, I just question if Gabriel our CB was the best choice. Don’t really care about how good he is in training with penalty kicks; it simply cannot replicate the pressure of a CL final down to penalty kicks.
Gabriel has been a warrior for us all year and one of our best players; however, that should not equate to taking penalty kicks, especially the last kick to decide our fate.
Bit disappointed a better penalty taker did not take the kick, but that is life. Hopefully if there is a second time, a better and more suitable choice is made to take penalty kicks.
Durand, who should have taken it ? If anyother player was more confident then surely they would’ve been selected.
According to Arteta’s comments, it was something pre-planned; Gabriel had already mentioned he wanted to take penalty kicks, and Arteta even said both him and Eze don’t miss in training.
As for whom instead? Any attacking player would be fine, or midfielder, anyone besides Gabriel.
I didn'[t know he took penalties in a shootout, did anyone else? If this was his first time, then why in such a monumentous match?
Personally he would not have been in my first 5, and even if he was, he would certainly not be the first or last taker.
I like Gabriel, but IMHO quite a stupid decision to have him take a make or break penalty kick to determine the match. He should stick to defending goals, he is the best CB in the world; just don’t try to score them in penalties.
Durand,
You say Arteta says they never miss in training, I see the same thing when I see them training and there banging the balls in from all angles.
Then on match day, they can’t hit a barndoor with a banjo. 😂
Durand, the only attackers/midfielders who could have taken a penalty were Madueke and Zubimendi. Now I’m only guessing but I don’t think either of them fancied taking one, otherwise they would have.
I must say I’ve seen CBs take penalties in important games. Probably the most famous one I can recall was David O’Leary in a knock out game in the 1990 World Cup. He’d never taken one before, but stepped up to take the 5th one for the Republic of Ireland and scored.
Durrand
Gabriel does have experience taking a penalty in a competitive (albeit friendly ) match, as he also missed the fifth against Villareal during the last pre-season.
It was on target, but saved in the shootout.
I can’t believe that so much time is being spent over that penalty. Arteta stated that there was full readiness and practice for penalties and both Eze and Gabi were excellent shots
As one of the club’s most senior players remaining on the pitch, it highlighted to me that Gabiwas willing to stand up and be counted and prepared to lead at a crucial point in the match. It’s commendable to me and not remotely an act of an over inflated ego
Gabriel has been so good for us, and this team is so together.
The way I see it, Arsenal missed the 5th penalty, not Gabriel.
Pens are always pre-planned. We all know Arteta would do what is right for the team, he doesn’t allow egos to take over. If he thought Gabriel wasn’t fit to take the 5th, he wouldn’t have taken it. It’s as simple as that.
At the end of the day pens are not a guarantee, no matter how good you are.
I completely agree with that perspective. Gabriel has been immense for Arsenal this season, and one missed penalty doesn’t change the fact that he’s been a leader and a rock for the team. Penalty shootouts are always a collective responsibility — the order is carefully planned, and the manager makes those decisions with the team’s best interest in mind.
As you said, penalties are never guaranteed. Even the greatest players in history have missed from the spot. What matters more is the courage to step up in that moment, and Gabriel showed that. The bigger picture is how united this Arsenal side is, and how much belief Arteta has instilled in them.
It’s a reminder that football is about resilience — setbacks happen, but the team’s togetherness and Gabriel’s consistency will carry them forward.
👍
Now everybody has cooled down. What would be our true reaction if we had to send our real time feelings. Frankly different to what we’re saying now esp with regard to Eze who also missed similarity taken pen v Liverpool while at Palace.
Ambachew,
You say that Eze missed a similar penalty in the same way against Liverpool for Palace. Well that just shows you he doesn’t learn from his previous mistakes doesn’t it.
And in a Champions League Final as well.
Actually I’ve just seen on you tube all the penalty’s Eze has taken from his QPR days to his Palace days and now Arsenal days.
13 penalty’s to be exact, he took all the penalty’s in a similar way. He scored 9, and missed 4.
Sadly one of those misses were in a Champions League Final.