Gabriel breaks silence after Champions League final as Arsenal fans reveal reaction to penalty miss

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Evening Standard

·31 May 2026

Gabriel breaks silence after Champions League final as Arsenal fans reveal reaction to penalty miss

Gabriel was subject to criticism from pundits for approach to unsuccessful penalty

Gabriel has revealed his pain at missing the decisive penalty in Arsenal’s shootout defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League final.

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The Brazilian stepped up to take the fifth Arsenal spot-kick in Budapest, knowing he had to score to keep the shootout going after Lucas Beraldo had put PSG on the brink of defending their crown.

Gabriel, however, sent his penalty over the bar to confirm back-to-back European titles for PSG - only the second team to complete such a feat in the modern day version of the competition.

As Marquinhos and the Arsenal squad rushed over to console Gabriel, the central defender was visibly devastated upon collecting his runners-up medal.

“It’s painful, but I’m proud of this team and everything we achieved together this season, he wrote in a post on Instagram.

“Thank you to our incredible fans for your support every step of the way. You deserve to celebrate this journey with us and enjoy the parade today!

“See you next season!!!

“Love,

“Big Gabi.”

During Arsenal’s Premier League trophy parade on Sunday, fans showed their support for Gabriel by bringing along a few banners with a clear message to the Brazilian defender.

Arsenal fans show support for Gabriel during the Premier League trophy parade

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Arsenal’s king of Brazil: Gabriel

PA

Declan Rice, meanwhile, offered an immediate show of support to his "devastated" Arsenal team-mate after being asked how the Gabriel and Eberechi Eze - who also missed in the shootout - were faring after their disappointment.

“[They are] devastated,” the England midfielder told TNT Sports. “Obviously to miss a penalty in a Champions League final is not nice.

“We love them, we're with them. It happens in football. They're not going to be the last players to miss penalties in finals.

“Everyone's missed a penalty and without those two this season we wouldn't have won the Premier League, that's for sure. Gabriel, I've ran out of words for him, as a person and as a player.

“Eze has had some crucial goals for us this season. It happens, it's football and it's cruel. But we take positives and we keep going.”