Peter Schmeichel has expressed his sympathy for Arsenal defender Gabriel, hailing him as the 'best player on the pitch' despite his crucial penalty miss in the Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain. The Brazilian centre-back saw his spot-kick fly over the bar, confirming PSG's status as European champions and denying Arsenal their first Champions League title since 2006.
The Gunners, who had already secured the Premier League title, took an early lead through Kai Havertz's superb finish in the seventh minute. However, PSG dominated possession and equalised shortly after half-time through Ousmane Dembele's penalty, awarded after Cristhian Mosquera fouled Khvicha Kvaratskhelia. The match ended 1-1 after extra time, leading to a tense shootout in which Arsenal's Eberechi Eze also missed before Gabriel's decisive failure.
Schmeichel's Praise for Gabriel
Speaking on CBS Sports, Manchester United legend Schmeichel said: 'I feel incredibly sorry for Gabriel because I thought he was outstanding, the best player on the pitch. His defending was so good. For him to be the guy who missed the last penalty and decided the result, I feel so sorry for him.' Schmeichel, who won the Champions League in 1999, dismissed suggestions that Gabriel should not have taken the penalty, stating: 'I don't think you can say that; that's a bit of an insult because of course he can kick a ball. But that is pressure. He tried to hit the roof of the net, and if you don't get it right, it goes over.'
Arsenal's Season of Triumph and Heartbreak
Despite the defeat, Arsenal captain Martin Odegaard urged his teammates to remember their achievements. 'The season's been amazing in many ways,' he said. 'We just couldn't quite do the double. But we have to be proud of our performance. We've done some incredible things and had a great Champions League run. We'll use this feeling to come back stronger.' Manager Mikel Arteta echoed those sentiments, calling it 'a privilege to manage this group of players' and praising their consistency throughout the competition.
Arsenal will hold a trophy parade in north London on Sunday to celebrate their Premier League title, the club's first in 22 years.
