Thomas Tuchel sends Eberechi Eze message and gives heartbroken Arsenal stars reality check

Thomas Tuchel says England’s players will “take care” of Eberechi Eze after his penalty shoot-out heartbreak.

Eze missed his spot kick in the Champions League final against Paris Saint Germain and it took Mikel Arteta to console him after Arsenal ’s devastating defeat.

Arsenal’s four players - Eze, Bukayo Saka , Noni Madueke and Declan Rice - have been given extra time off after the Champions League to recover both mentally and physically.

It might hit Eze hardest of all because he missed from the spot in the shoot-out but Tuchel insists that his other players will ensure there is no hangover for the Arsenal players.

England boss Tuchel also reminded the Arsenal contingent that they have had a “great season” overall after winning the first title in 22 years and they matched the best club side in Europe in the Champions League final.

Tuchel said: “Of course it’s painful for Ebs but of course I will take care of it, the group will take care of him and I think the extra week they had will help a lot.

“I’m very happy that they got the title in England. I think that took a lot of weight off their shoulders and they were aware they did what they could and they were very close in the final.

“I don’t think I will need to lift them. They’ve absolutely had a great season. I’m always happy to do it if I have to but they should know that a final just comes down to one or two shots in a penalty shoot-out which means it cannot be closer. At some point a winner has to be found.

“I have lost some finals in a penalty shoot-out and it’s the closest way to lose and it hurts of course, it hurts a lot to lose big finals but a penalty means you did evrything right, it couldn’t be closer.

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“But it also means you were absolutely on the same level with maybe the best team in the world at the moment.”

Arsenal’s four-strong contingent are flying in to West Palm Beach where England’ are training at the Palm Beach Gardens Tennis and Pickleball Centre.

But they are not expected to be at England’s first friendly against New Zealand which is 220 miles away in Tampa.

They will be reunited with their other England team mates when they return after the game and Tuchel has even arranged for them to be able to rewatch videos of team meetings which have been held this week.

Rice has played an exhausting amount of football while the others have also been on a rollercoaster ride after their season.

Saka had a premiere of a new documentary on him in New York this week which Eze attended while the others took a break and Rice posted pictures of himself on his week off with Hollywood pal James Corden.

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Tuchel expects the Arsenal players to be in great spirits and revealed that he has already been in touch with some of them to make them feel part of it.

Tuchel added: “I saw pictures and I heard messages already that they're happy to come, the group is waiting. We’re in good spirits, so this is normally what helps and I think they're very well aware of what they achieved this season.

“I thought I would just leave them to themselves, so they could be proud of what they achieved. We spoke after their title in the Premier League , which was the big target and I think that was the main target.

"I could feel that it makes them proud, and took a weight off their shoulders and I think there is no need to be overly disappointed and to carry it into the World Cup campaign. I don't see that."