Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed that defender Gabriel Magalhães personally wanted the responsibility of taking the club’s decisive penalty during their heartbreaking UEFA Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint Germain.

The Gunners saw their dreams of European glory shattered after losing a dramatic penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw after 120 minutes in Budapest.

Kai Havertz handed Arsenal an early advantage before Ousmane Dembele restored parity for PSG, forcing the final into extra time and eventually penalties.

The shootout ended in disappointment for the Premier League champions as Eberechi Eze and Gabriel both failed to convert their spot kicks, allowing the French giants to retain the Champions League trophy.

Speaking after the match, Arteta disclosed that Gabriel had volunteered to take Arsenal’s final penalty despite the immense pressure surrounding the moment.

“Gabriel wanted to take the last penalty. We trained for that moment,” Arteta said.

The Arsenal boss’s comments highlight the confidence the Brazilian defender had heading into the shootout, even though the outcome ultimately went against him.

Despite the painful defeat, Gabriel has enjoyed an outstanding campaign with the North London club, playing a key role in Arsenal’s Premier League title triumph ahead of Manchester City.

While the missed penalty will be remembered as a defining moment of the final, Arteta’s backing suggests the defender had earned the trust of both his manager and teammates long before stepping up on European football’s biggest stage.