Mikel Arteta explains why Gabriel took his first-ever penalty for Arsenal in shootout against PSG

Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta has explained why centre-back Gabriel Magalhaes was allowed to take the Gunners' fifth penalty in the Champions League final shootout against Paris Saint-Germain.

Despite leading for most of the match following Kai Havertz's early goal, the 2025/26 Premier League champions fell to a brutal penalty shootout defeat against PSG in Budapest, Hungary, on Saturday (May 30).

The English side appeared resolute in defence for much of the clash before Cristhian Mosquera fouled Georgian winger Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the penalty area.

A spot-kick was awarded, and 2025 Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele made no mistake from 12 yards.

After a cagey second half and a 30-minute period of extra time, the match went to penalties.

Arsenal star Eberechi Eze was the first to miss, although David Raya's save from Nuno Mendes' spot-kick would no doubt have made him feel slightly better.

Declan Rice smashed home Arsenal's third penalty before both sides scored their fourth spot-kicks.

Then came the decisive moments, with PSG's Lucas Beraldo smashing past Raya to make it 4-3 to the Ligue 1 champions, meaning Gabriel had to score.

The defender had never taken a penalty for Arsenal and blazed his effort over the bar, handing PSG a second Champions League crown in two seasons while the Gunners' wait goes on.

Why did Gabriel take Arsenal's decisive penalty?

Forward Noni Madueke and midfielder Martin Zubimendi were among the potential options still on the pitch, but Arteta insisted that the Brazilian had "prepared and trained for this moment" when explaining why Gabriel stepped up.

"He wanted to take it," Arteta said after the match.

"Normally the penalty takers would be Bukayo [Saka], Martin [Odegaard] and Kai [Havertz]. But we knew that if the game went to extra time and penalties, different players would have to step forward."

Meanwhile, Gabriel's team-mate Rice, who scored his penalty, showed support for his team-mates when speaking on TNT Sports after the match.

"To miss a penalty in a Champions League final, obviously it's not nice," he said.

"But we love them and we're with them. It happens in football. They're not going to be the last players to miss penalties in finals.

"Everyone has missed a penalty and without those two this season we wouldn't have won the Premier League, that's for sure.

"Gabriel, I've run out of words for him as a person and as a player. Eze has scored some crucial goals for us this season.

"It happens. It's football and it's cruel. We take the positives and keep going."