Gabriel Vows To Take Another Penalty After Champions League Final

Gabriel Magalhães has made it clear he will not hide from penalty duty in future, despite missing the decisive kick for Arsenal in the Champions League final.

The Brazilian blazed Arsenal's fifth penalty over the bar at the Puskás Aréna in May, handing Paris Saint-Germain a 4-3 shootout victory and a second successive European crown.

Mikel Arteta's side had taken a dream start through Kai Havertz's sixth-minute strike, before Ousmane Dembélé levelled from the spot after Cristhian Mosquera brought down Kvicha Kvaratskhelia. Neither side could find a winner across 120 minutes, and after Eberechi Eze had already missed, Gabriel's effort agonisingly sailed into the stands.

Now, the defender has opened up on the moment and insisted it has not shaken his confidence.

'I think in the final, anything can happen. I think we did really well,' he said. 'If I have another penalty, I am going to be there to take it. I think my teammates helped me a lot after this.'

The Brazilian furthered, admitting, 'Of course I was sad, of course I don't want to mis a penalty. I have learnt from this, if I have another opportunity I will take it.'

The miss was the first penalty Gabriel had taken in his Arsenal career, with usual takers, Bukayo Saka, Martin Ødegaard and Kai Havertz all no longer on the pitch by the end of extra-time.

As a member of the leadership group, Arteta confirmed after the defeat that Gabriel had nominated himself to take the decisive kick, and had prepared for the moment in training.

After the miss confirmed PSG as champions, the club captain Marquinhos immediately embraced his compatriot, telling him to 'stay strong, to hold his head high'.

He also received support from his teammates, with Declan Rice quick to defend both Gabriel and Eze, telling supporters, 'without those two this season we wouldn't have won the Premier League, that's for sure'.

The Arsenal fanbase responded in similar fashion, and sales of his shirt rose by 350 per cent in the days after the final, with his name becoming the club's top seller, according to The Athletic.

Only four Arsenal players started more games than the Brazilian across all competitions last season, as he scored four goals and registered five assists across 51 appearances.

The Brazilian now prepares to host his former club Lille in the Champions League tomorrow night, six years on from becoming Arteta's fourth signing at the club in a £27million move to north London in September 2020.