Arsenal’s hopes of winning their first UEFA Champions League trophy were shattered following a penalty shootout defeat against PSG.
The two sides could not be separated after extra time, forcing the match to be decided from the spot in a tense shootout.
Eberechi Eze and Gabriel Magalhaes were the two Arsenal players who missed their penalties, proving costly in the highest-stakes match in club football.
Former Liverpool star Steven Gerrard, speaking on TNT Sports, was particularly critical of Eze’s stuttering approach during his spot-kick attempt.
Gerrard, who won the UEFA Champions League with Liverpool, argued that players should not add unnecessary complications to an already pressurised situation.
Steven Gerrard 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.”
Eze joined Arsenal from Crystal Palace at the start of the season and has endured a personally difficult campaign at his new club.
The winger was outstanding during his time with Crystal Palace but has struggled to replicate that form since making the switch to Arsenal.
The penalty miss in a Champions League final will only intensify scrutiny on Eze after what has already been a frustrating season for the player.
It remains to be seen whether he can bounce back from this painful disappointment and return to his best form in the campaign ahead.
There is no doubt that Eze possesses genuine quality, and Arsenal will be hopeful he can become a reliable asset going forward.
Arsenal did win the Premier League title this season, providing some consolation, but the club had set their sights firmly on European glory.
The Gunners produced a strong defensive performance throughout the final but ultimately lacked the cutting edge required to win the match inside normal time.
Their inability to convert chances during open play made the penalty shootout inevitable, and the costly misses from Eze and Magalhaes proved to be the difference.
The post Steven Gerrard Slams Eberechi Eze’s Penalty Technique After Arsenal’s Champions League Final Defeat To PSG appeared first on Gooner Daily.
