The best team in Europe has been decided in the cruellest of ways, a penalty shootout.
On Sunday morning AEST, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) claimed back-to-back Champions League triumphs with a 4-3 shootout win over Arsenal following a 1-1 draw after extra in Budapest.
Eberechi Eze and Gabriel missed from the spot, with the latter’s miss sending the French faithful wild as Arsenal fell painfully short of their first Champions League trophy.
It marked their second final defeat in the European final, 20 years after their first in Paris against Barcelona.
Luis Enrique’s side became only the second, besides Real Madrid, to win the competition in consecutive years in the Champions League era.
Yet for much of the match, Arsenal had one hand on the trophy, after Kai Havertz powered Arsenal ahead after six minutes.
However, a rogue and desperate challenge would see PSG win a penalty midway through the second half, and Ousmane Dembele made no mistake from the spot.
That would mark the final game of regular and extra time, with the match decided by penalties.
With PSG confident after already claiming three trophies on penalties this season, and winning their last five, they showed calm and poise from the start.
Arsenal blinked first, with Ebereche Eze firing wide, but David Raya then saved the next shot from PSG’s Nuno Mendes. Declan Rice made no mistake to level it at 2-2.
But after Lucas Beraldo put the Ligue 1 winners 4-3 up, Arsenal defender Gabriel was left with the fifth kick for his side, and it was one he would like all over again, lashing it high over the crossbar to hand PSG the trophy.
“Gabriel fires into the Budapest sky, and Paris Saint-Germain are Champions again,” Peter Drury exclaimed in commentary.
“The Champions of France remain the Champions of Europe, and Arsenal are downcast.
“There has to be a fall guy, and how that hurts. It is brutal, it is cruel, it is personal. It cuts to the very heart of a player who has excelled for Arsenal until the last kick of a monumental season.
PSG defender Marquinhos went over immediately to console his Brazilian teammate, as the Arsenal enforcer was left on the verge of tears from his costly howler.
It was a sad end to a dominant campaign for Arsenal, who, not too long ago, looked like they had the perfect chance to complete the quadruple and now are left with just the Premier League title to show for their incredible season.
And the Arsenal faithful were left shattered by the ‘cruel’ end to their season.
“Football can be cruel, but this team gave everything. From league battles to European nights, Arsenal reminded the world why this club belongs among the elite. Heads high. The future remains bright,” one wrote on X after the final whistle was blown.
Diehard Arsenal fan Piers Morgan added, “You guys were all my heroes last week, and you’re all my heroes tonight. Thanks for an amazing season. We’re the Champions of England and very nearly Europe too.”
“We went unbeaten and still lost,” another distraught fan added, pointing to the fact that they didn’t lose a game in regular time the entire Champions League season.
While other fans tweeted, “heartbroken” and “football is so so cruel”.
Arsenal remain the team with the most games in Champions League and European Cup history without having lifted the trophy (226).
– with AFP
