A new detail has emerged about Arsenal’s penalty shootout order in Budapest.
Since the heartbreak of Arsenal’s Champions League final penalty shootout defeat to PSG, there has been plenty of discussion about the order of the spot takers.
Specifically, why Gabriel Magalhaes, a centre-back, stepped up for the crucial fifth kick rather than a more established penalty taker.
Mikel Arteta has since explained that Gabriel volunteered, and that Arsenal’s normal penalty takers — Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, and Kai Havertz — had been substituted before the shootout began.
Tell us we’re wrong…Mikel Arteta just cost Arsenal the Champions League by sending Gabriel up to take a penalty
Eberechi Eze had missed the second spot kick, before David Raya kept Arsenal alive by saving Nuno Mendes’ penalty in round three.
Gabriel then stepped up for the fifth and decisive kick, but saw his effort clear the crossbar, handing the Champions League trophy to the Parisians.
It was a devastating end to Arsenal’s dream of a historic double.
But a new detail about who would have taken the sixth penalty for the Gunners has now been revealed.
Noni Madueke was Arsenal’s sixth penalty taker
Speaking on the Arsecast, Arsenal journalist James McNicholas revealed that Noni Madueke was down to be Arsenal’s sixth penalty taker in the Champions League final.
“[Gabriel] had a brilliant game, that’s what you’ve also got to remember about the person who says, ‘I’ll take fifth penalty,’ which we understand is what Gabi said. He was happy to do it,” McNicholas said.
“I have heard that Noni [Madueke] was down to be sixth. Obviously, sadly it didn’t get that far.”
Now that you’ve all had time to reflect, why did Arsenal lose the Champions League final?
Madueke had an impressive showing from the bench, causing Nuno Mendes far more problems than a struggling Saka did on the night.
But as a £52million attacking player, he has faced criticism for not stepping up as one of the five penalty takers.
Gabriel is a leader, and he usually relishes pressure, but he has never taken a penalty for Arsenal. He simply shouldn’t have taken one, even if he wanted to step up.
Who knows, had Madueke stepped up for that fifth penalty instead, Arsenal might be European champions today. Such are the margins.
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