Thierry Henry has called into question why Gabriel took Arsenal’s decisive penalty in their Champions League final defeat.
The Gunners were beaten by Paris Saint-Germain on spot kicks in Budapest after the two sides drew 1-1 after extra time.
Kai Havertz opened the scoring in the first half before Ousmane Dembele levelled from 12 yards after Cristhian Mosquera felled Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.
The north Londoners were on the back foot for much of their second Champions League final appearance, and they eventually paid the price when Gabriel’s penalty, Arsenal’s fifth in the shootout, flew over the crossbar to hand Paris a second straight European crown.
On CBS afterwards, Gunners legend Henry, part of the defeated Arsenal side in the 2006 final, could not get his head around why the centre-back took a penalty that the Premier League champions had to score.
“I always say when you go and take the penalty I will always have respect for you,” Henry said.
“I don’t know why he went, I don’t know how he arrived to be the fifth guy but he went.
“How he played all season and tonight was immense. But he missed it. But he didn’t hide.”
Gabriel has been a monumental figure for Arsenal in their Premier League triumph this term, emerging as a huge set-piece threat as the Gunners lifted their first league title in 22 years.
The Brazilian was subject to jibes on social media after the final, as his compatriot Richarlison reposted a Tik Tok video of a child laughing, while his arch-nemesis Erling Haaland, the Manchester City striker, tweeted a selfie of him and his friends smiling after the defender’s miss.
