Arsenal suffer Champions League heartbreak as PSG win on penalties - 5 talking points

On a cruel night in Hungary, Arsenal saw Champions League glory pass them by as Paris Saint-Germain staggered their way to a second successive European triumph.

It took a penalty shoot-out to separate Europe's two best sides. And it was PSG who emerged victorious after Eberechi Eze and Gabriel missed from 12 yards.

Determined to follow up their Premier League title success by making history in Budapest, it took Arsenal — specifically Kai Havertz — just six minutes to fire an arrow straight into PSG hearts. A ricocheted clearance fell into the German's path and he plundered forward before lashing an unstoppable strike beyond Matvey Safonov at his near post from an acute angle.

PSG responded as expected, enjoying large spells of possession. But Arsenal's gameplan seemed to be pitch perfect as the team, marshalled by the superb Gabriel, repelled any sustained attacking sequences to take their precious lead in at half-time.

The final turned on the hour mark: Cristhian Mosquera was penalised for bringing Khvicha Kvaratskhelia down in the penalty area and Ousmane Dembele made no mistake from 12 yards.

David Raya somehow managed to block Bradley Barcola's path to goal in the final five minutes as both sides went in search of the goal that would make them European champions, only to have to settle for more chances to do so in extra-time.

Arsenal fury filled the air as the referee waved away a Noni Madueke penalty appeal in extra-time. But penalties is where the night ended up — and it was PSG who were once again triumphant in the Champions League final.

Arsenal have twice reached the Champions League final. Twice they've led. But both times they have seen immortality slip from their grasp.

Dembele's penalty gave PSG the chance to get themselves out of jail. And they subsequently took full advantage of that by clinching the winning ticket in the penalty lottery to extinguish Arsenal's hopes of becoming champions of Europe for the very first time.

It's the cruelest way to lose. And this will hurt for some time, just as it did in Paris 20 years ago.

View 4 Images

To win the big prizes, you need to get the big calls right. And in this case, giving Havertz the nod to start over Viktor Gyokeres was an absolute masterstroke from Arsenal's manager.

Havertz boasts plenty of big-game pedigree, specially Champions League final experience having scored the winner when Chelsea beat Man City back in 2021. They say lightning never strikes twice, but it did here.

It wasn't just the goal, though. Havertz was dogged out of possession and diligent in build-up. He set the tone from the front, with Gabriel and Co further back following on a magical night.

It's worth noting Arteta's other bold calls paid off, too. Young Myles Lewis-Skelly, only recently returned to his natural midfield berth, was magnificent. It would have been easy to overlook the Hale End graduate for the pedigree of Martin Zubimendi. Even Mosquera, playing in place of Jurrien Timber with the latter not having played since March, kept one of the world's most potent wingers quiet until being caught out for the penalty.

Arteta got all the big calls right in Budapest — but it wasn't enough.

View 4 Images

If there was any team who fancied their chances of stifling the side who absolutely blitzed their way to Champions League glory last year, it would have been Arsenal.

And after going 1-0 up for the 47th time this season, the shut-out kings looked a good bet to do so again. Arsenal always looked in control after hitting the front early despite large spells out of possession. There were moments of pressure where nerves were fraught in the stands. And PSG, it felt like, were almost permanently camped outside the Arsenal area at times.

But the Gunners absorbed everything that was thrown at them before Dembele restored parity from the penalty spot. Heartbreakingly, they didn't get their reward.

Paris Saint-Germain were the big favourites here after blitzing their way to another Champions League final. But for a long time, it looked as though their bid to join the handful of elite sides who managed to successfully retain their European crown would fall flat.

In truth, they never really lived up to the billing this time around. The swashbuckling side that blew Inter Milan last year effectively went MIA in Hungary. They were smothered by Arsenal's imperious defence, with Raya not even called into action until nearly an hour in (and even that was a routine save from a long-range free-kick).

Dembele gave them a lifeline with an ice-cool penalty under immense pressure. And although it was penalties that proved Arsenal's undoing to give PSG victory again, winning back to back finals is something only Real Madrid have done in the Champions League era. That's what will be in the history books.

View 4 Images

If anyone deserved to be on the winning side after 120-plus minutes, it was Arsenal's No 6.

To a man, Arsenal were sensational in Budapest in their bid to make history. But Gabriel was an absolute colossus, just as he has been all season.

The Brazilian is so often the difference maker in both penalty boxes given his prowess from set-pieces. It was the day job that kept him busy here, though, and in the first half alone he made three crucial interventions just when it seemed as though PSG were on the cusp of the breakthrough they so desperately craved.

After excelling during regulation and extra-time, Gabriel showed commendable character to shoulder the burden of the decisive fifth penalty. And all that is why the ending to Gabriel's night feels so cruel.

Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.