Steven Gerrard slammed Eberechi Eze for his 'nonsense' penalty miss as Arsenal suffered shootout heartbreak against PSG in the Champions League final.
The Gunners' hopes of finally lifting a European trophy were dashed for yet another year as Eze sent the ball wide and Gabriel blazed over the bar from 12 yards during the penalty shootout, after neither 90 minutes nor extra-time could separate the two sides.
Mikel Arteta's side took the lead against the reigning European champions when Kai Havertz burst through on goal and tucked the ball into the roof of the net with a superb finish just a few minutes into the match.
Arteta's tactics stifled PSG throughout, but the French giants eventually drew level when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was fouled in the box by Cristhian Mosquera. Ballon d'Or winner Ousmane Dembele coolly stepped up from the spot to send David Raya the wrong way and restore parity. The match subsequently opened up, but tired legs on both sides failed to conjure up the quality needed to find a decisive winner.
Viktor Gyokeres converted Arsenal's opening effort from the spot as the Gunners were required to take their penalties in front of the PSG end, going second in the order. However, Eze squandered the opportunity to maintain Arsenal's perfect record, sending the ball wide of the post after his stuttered run-up, despite Matvey Safonov diving the wrong way.
The England star's stuttering run-up was roundly criticised by Gerrard, who said on TNT Sports: “Penalties are hard enough. Think about the magnitude of the game, the stadium, the atmosphere, it’s hard enough without any of that nonsense. Put your foot through it, back your technique.” Gerrard, however, later admitted that he respects anyone who steps up to take a penalty in those circumstances, insisting it's a ‘brave’ thing to do.
Raya managed to immediately help his team-mate by stopping Nuno Mendes' spot-kick, but Gabriel blazed the decisive final kick over the bar that saw PSG win the trophy.
Reflecting on the defeat, former Arsenal favourite Jack Wilshere said: “It will take a while to get over, but I’m pretty sure it’s not going to take another 20 years to get to another final with Mikel in charge. I fancied us [Arsenal] for penalties but it’s a hard one to take.”
