Arsenal FC coach Mikel Arteta has revealed the behind-the-scenes moments of the dramatic moment that cost the London team their Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.
Arsenal were beaten on penalties in Budapest after the match ended 1-1 after regular time and extra time. The decisive moment came when Brazilian defender Gabriel Magalhães missed the fifth penalty, handing the trophy to PSG.
After the match, Arteta defended the decision for Gabriel to take responsibility for the decisive shot, indicating that everything was planned in advance.
"Gabriel wanted to take the last penalty. We trained for that moment," Arteta declared.
"It was planned and prepared. Gabriel had to take the fifth penalty. He never misses a penalty in training," added the Spanish coach.
The decision has sparked huge debate among fans and pundits alike, with many surprised to see a centre-back take the decisive penalty in Europe's biggest final. However, Arteta insisted the team had been working specifically for such a scenario and that the players had full faith in Gabriel.
Despite the disappointment in the final, the Arsenal coach expressed pride in his team, which this season managed to win the Premier League and return to the elite of European football.
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