Mikel Arteta cut a desperate figure as he reacted to Arsenal's Champions League final defeat against Paris Saint-Germain. The Spanish coach had guided Arsenal to their first Champions League final since 2006, but a penalty shootout defeat against the Ligue 1 outfit was the difference between despair and glory.
Gabriel was the villain, as the typically imperious defender blazed his penalty over the crossbar. It was the cruellest way for the Premier League champions to lose the biggest game in European football, having originally taken the lead through Kai Havertz after just six minutes.
Arteta had coached a strong game up until that point, but it all started to crumble midway through the second half when Cristhian Mosquera bundled down Khvicha Kvaratskhelia inside the penalty area, with Ousmane Dembele tucking home from 12 yards. Penalties continued to define the match, with PSG triumphing 4-3 in the shootout.
When the referee blew for full-time, it was clear emotions were high, with Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke seen in tears. Meanwhile, Gabriel, who missed the penalty kick, was also struggling to hold himself together.
It's a bitter pill for Arteta to take, and speaking after the trophy celebrations, he remarked: "It's very tough to accept when you are so consistent in the competition all the way to the final and you lose it on penalty kicks. It's a difficult one."
Extra time was a cagey affair, but Arsenal players and the coaching team were fuming when the referee waved away claims for a penalty after a coming together between Noni Madueke and Nuno Mendes. Unsurprisingly, Arteta bemoaned the decision during his debrief, saying the referee made a mistake.
