Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed that defender Gabriel Magalhães volunteered to take the decisive penalty during the Gunners’ UEFA Champions League final clash against Paris Saint-Germain on Saturday.
The North London side suffered heartbreak after losing in a penalty shoot-out following a 1-1 draw at the end of 120 minutes.
Kai Havertz gave Arsenal hope during normal time, while Ousmane Dembele found the net for PSG to ensure the contest remained level and eventually headed to penalties.
In the shoot-out, Gabriel and Eberechi Eze failed to convert their spot-kicks, handing the advantage to the French champions, who went on to secure the European title.
Speaking after the match, Arteta disclosed that Gabriel had been eager to take responsibility for the final penalty, stressing that the team had prepared extensively for such a scenario.
“Gabriel wanted to take the last penalty. We trained for that moment,” Arteta said, as quoted by Fabrizio Romano.
Despite the painful defeat, Gabriel has enjoyed a strong campaign for Arsenal, playing a key role in the club’s successful Premier League title-winning season ahead of Manchester City.
