Arsenal heartbreak as Gabriel skies decisive penalty in Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain

Arsenal have suffered more Champions League heartbreak as Paris Saint-Germain won the final 4-3 on penalties.

Gunners centre-back Gabriel was tasked with keeping his side in the shootout but blazed the fifth and decisive spot-kick way over the bar.

Getty

David Raya had saved from Nuno Mendes, but Arsenal’s wait for the biggest trophy in European football goes on.

PSG have become the first team to win back-to-back Champions League titles since Real Madrid in 2018.

Kai Havertz scored the opening goal inside six minutes with what was a thumping strike into the roof of the net.

PSG then drew level midway through the second half as Ousmane Dembele scored a penalty following a foul on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

But ultimately, it was penalties that decided this season’s champions of Europe.

It’s two in a row for the Parisians as Eberechi Eze and Gabriel missed the target for the Premier League winners.

So close, yet so far

Arsenal battled throughout the majority of the match and made an excellent start when Havertz netted his second goal in a final.

The German forward race through on goal and blasted a strike over Matvei Safonov to break the deadlock.

PSG, who won last season’s 5-0 against Inter Milan, were way below their usual standards during the opening half.

However, they found their way back into the match as Cristhian Mosquera fouled Kvaratskhelia and Dembele netted the spot-kick.

Getty

Getty

The goal appeared to spark the French giants into life, as they piled the pressure on an Arsenal side who looked to hit them on the break.

With the score 1-1 at full-time, extra time was needed, but both sides lacked an edge in front of goal.

And so, it was a penalty shootout that decided the result, with Goncalo Ramos setting the tone with an excellent opening strike.

Viktor Gyokeres and Desire Doue dispatched their efforts, before Eze sent his wide of the post after a stuttered run-up.

Arsenal were handed a massive lifeline when Raya denied Mendes to level the scoring.

Declan Rice, Achraf Hakimi, Gabriel Martinelli and Lucas Beraldo all did their bit, and it was then Gabriel who ended Arsenal’s hopes of glory.

Getty

The defender skied his penalty into the PSG stand behind the goal to spark jubilant celebrations from the opposition.

Arsenal have had an excellent season with their Premier League win, but will now be left thinking of what could have been.

They remain the team with most games played in European Cup or Champions League history to never win the competition on 226.