Eberechi Eze Criticised for Penalty Miss as Arsenal Suffer Champions League Final Heartbreak

Arsenal midfielder Eberechi Eze has come under criticism following his penalty miss during the Gunners' dramatic UEFA Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain in Budapest.

The England international failed to convert from the spot during a tense penalty shootout that followed a closely contested 1-1 draw after extra time, with PSG ultimately securing a 4-3 victory to retain the European crown.

Eze's miss proved to be one of the pivotal moments of the shootout, as Arsenal's dream of winning the Champions League for the first time in the club's history ended in disappointment.

Costly Miss in High-Pressure Shootout

Eze stepped forward to take Arsenal's second penalty after Viktor Gyökeres had successfully converted his effort, while PSG's Gonçalo Ramos and Désiré Doué had both found the net.

However, the midfielder failed to hit the target, dragging his effort wide of the left-hand post as PSG goalkeeper Matvey Safonov remained rooted to the centre of his goal.

The miss handed an early advantage to the French champions and increased the pressure on Arsenal's remaining penalty takers.

Although goalkeeper David Raya later produced an excellent save to deny Nuno Mendes and briefly revive Arsenal's hopes, Gabriel Magalhães eventually missed the decisive penalty, firing over the crossbar to confirm PSG's triumph.

Eze's Technique Questioned

Attention quickly turned to Eze's penalty technique, which featured a series of stuttering steps during his run-up in an apparent attempt to force the goalkeeper into committing early.

The tactic ultimately failed to unsettle Safonov, who remained patient and did not dive before the strike was taken.

Former Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard was among those who questioned the approach during TNT Sports' coverage of the final.

"Think about the magnitude of the occasion, the atmosphere and everything surrounding the game," Gerrard said.

"It's already difficult enough without adding any of that nonsense.

"Just strike through the ball and trust your technique."

Hargreaves Offers Assessment

Former England and Manchester United midfielder Owen Hargreaves also expressed reservations about the increasingly popular stutter-step approach used by some penalty takers.

"I've never really been a fan of the stutter-step," Hargreaves said.

"I think it can place additional pressure on the player, particularly if the goalkeeper chooses to stand still.

"My preference is a more direct approach — similar to Harry Kane's technique — where you pick your spot and strike the ball with conviction."

Hargreaves highlighted that several penalties in the shootout were executed with confidence, including Declan Rice's successful effort for Arsenal.

He added:

"When you hesitate during the run-up, there is always the possibility that doubt creeps into your mind if the goalkeeper doesn't move.

"The most important thing is that you hit the target. If the goalkeeper makes a save, then fair enough. But when you miss the target completely, you don't even give yourself a chance to score."

Sympathy for Arsenal Duo

Despite his criticism of the technique, Hargreaves was quick to express sympathy for both Eze and Gabriel, whose misses ultimately proved decisive.

"I feel for them because they're outstanding players and good professionals," he said.

"They'll learn from this experience and come back stronger."

PSG Secure Historic Achievement

The victory allowed Paris Saint-Germain to become only the second club in the Champions League era to win back-to-back European titles, further cementing their position among the continent's elite.

For Arsenal, the defeat was a painful conclusion to what had otherwise been a remarkable campaign.

Mikel Arteta's side secured their first Premier League title in 22 years and reached only the second Champions League final in the club's history.

However, despite their domestic success, the wait for a first European Cup triumph continues, with the Gunners left to reflect on what might have been after a heartbreaking night in Budapest.

While the immediate disappointment will be difficult to overcome, Arsenal's progress throughout the season suggests they remain firmly on course to challenge for major honours both domestically and in Europe for years to come.