Steven Gerrard blasts Arsenal ace over ‘nonsense’ penalty miss – ‘again your method’
Steven Gerrard has slammed Eberechi Eze for his ‘nonsense’ penalty miss as Arsenal suffered heartbreak in a shootout in the Champions League final against PSG
Eberechi Eze missed a crucial penalty in the shootout
Steven Gerrard slammed Eberechi Eze for his ‘nonsense’ penalty miss as Arsenal suffered shootout heartbreak against PSG in the Champions League final.
Arsenal’s dreams of finally getting their hands on a European trophy were shattered for another year as Eze and Gabriel both missed the target from 12 yards in the penalty shootout after 90 minutes and extra-time couldn’t separate the two sides.
The Gunners took the lead against the defending European champions when Kai Havertz broke clear and found the roof of the net with a great finish just four minutes in. Mikel Arteta’s defensive gameplan suffocated PSG but the Parisiens eventually broke through when Khvicha Kvaratskhelia was brought down in the box by Cristian Mosquera.
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Ballon d’Or winner Ousmane Dembele stepped up from 12 yards to send David Raya the wrong way and equalise. The game subsequently opened up but tired legs on both sides couldn’t produce the quality to find a winner.
Viktor Gyokeres scored Arsenal’s first from the spot as the Gunners had to take their spot kicks from in front of the PSG end and second in the order.
However, Eze was unable to keep up the 100 per cent record as he sent the ball wide of the post following his stuttered run-up despite Matvey Safonov diving the wrong way.
The England star’s run-up decision and conviction was slammed 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.”
Raya was able to immediately get his team-mate off the hook as he saved Nuno Mendes’ spot kick but Gabriel blazed the final kick of the final over the bar to crown PSG.
Speaking after the game, former Arsenal star 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.”
