Why Arsenal were denied penalty during Champions League final defeat vs PSG

The reason why Arsenal were denied a penalty during extra time of their Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain has emerged.

The Gunners lost 4-3 on penalties to the Champions League holders in Budapest after the game ended 1-1.

Kai Havertz opened the scoring on six minutes with a powerful close range effort.

Ousmane Dembele then levelled for PSG from the penalty spot on 65 minutes after Cristian Mosquera fouled Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

In the shootout, Arsenal's Eberechi Eze and PSG's Nuno Mendes both missed from the spot, before Gabriel Magalhaes fired the decisive penalty over the crossbar.

That sparked wild celebrations among the PSG players as they won the club's second consecutive Champions League title - but it could have been much different if a decision in the first half of extra time had been taken differently.

Arsenal players called for a penalty to be awarded when Noni Madueke was challenged by Mendes after he raced into the area.

Mendes pulled Madueke to the ground but there were question marks over whether the Arsenal winger had initiated contact first by locking his arm around Mendes - and whether there was enough contact for a penalty to be given in any case.

Referee Daniel Siebert and the VAR team decided that it wasn't a penalty and play resumed.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta claimed in his post-match interview with TNT Sports that it could have 'easily been a penalty'.

Midfielder Declan Rice told the same outlet that he hadn't yet watched the incident back, but added: "At first glance, on the pitch, I think he's ahead of Nuno Mendes and, if I'm looking back at the one we got against Bayer Leverkusen [in the last 16], it was very, very similar.

"But look, I'm not going to get into that. Obviously I was gutted at the time because I thought the ref would go and have a look [at the VAR monitor]. I thought it was and so did the bench and our players."

Ex-referee clarifies Champions League final penalty decision

But former Premier League referee Graham Scott has backed the call made by the match officials in Budapest.

In his new role with The Athletic, Scott explained: "There will be plenty of comments along the line of 'I've seen them given', and I doubt a VAR would have seen enough to overturn a penalty had one been awarded.

"But ultimately I would rather defend the referee for keeping out of this one than try to build a defence had he succumbed to pressure and pointed to the spot."