Paul Merson has revealed that he was so disappointed by Noni Madueke and Martin Zubimendi after Arsenal lost the Champions League final.
Mikel Arteta’s team had to deal with the heartbreak of losing the Champions League final on penalties after Gabriel Magalhaes and Eberechi Eze both missed from 12 yards.
Tell us we’re wrong…Mikel Arteta just cost Arsenal the Champions League by sending Gabriel up to take a penalty
Gabriel had to deal with the pain of missing the fifth and final spot kick, which confirmed Paris Saint-Germain as European champions.
But following the spot kicks, Merson has slammed two Arsenal players for being unwilling to take penalties ahead of the Brazilian defender.
Paul Merson is so annoyed at Noni Madueke and Martin Zubimendi
Paul Merson believes that both Noni Madueke and Martin Zubimendi should have volunteered to take penalties ahead of Gabriel Magalhaes.
Arteta’s call to make the Brazilian international take the fifth penalty has been questioned, but after the game, he made it clear that Gabriel offered to take one.
Speaking to The Sports Agents, Merson said: “Madueke was fighting with Cole Palmer to take a penalty at 4-0 when Chelsea were winning. They were fighting over the ball, fighting. He wasn’t fighting on Saturday to take a penalty.
Madueke was Arsenal’s big attacking signing for £55 million last summer and really should have stepped up to take a spot kick.
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Meanwhile, Zubimendi’s technique should also have made him an ideal candidate to have taken a penalty, according to Merson.
“That’s what I can’t have, Zubimendi, one of the top midfield players in this country and at Spain, who’s a centre midfield player who had probably one of the best techniques about, he probably will end up taking a penalty for Spain.
“They should be taking penalties before a centre-half. That’s no disrespect to centre-halves, but those two people should be doing that. I always think of that first.”
It’s clear that Arteta had taken most of his big personalities off the pitch, and it shows a slight mental weakness in his squad, which ultimately cost them.
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