Gabriel's Resolve: From Champions League Heartbreak to Premier League Strength

Gabriel refuses to let that night in Paris define him.

The Arsenal defender, whose skied spot-kick helped hand Paris Saint-Germain a second straight Champions League crown, insists he will walk to the spot again if called upon – and without hesitation.

“I couldn't let a single missed penalty erase everything I'd achieved during the season,” he told ESPN Brasil, reflecting on that brutal shootout defeat in the final, where Eberechi Eze had also missed for the Gunners. “I just thank God for the opportunity to have been there in that moment; it's part of football.

“I'm definitely eager for another chance. If it happens again, I'll be there, and if I have to take the penalty, I'll take it. That’s it.”

From heartbreak in Europe to hero status at home

For all the images of Gabriel with his head in his hands on that Champions League stage, his season was built on something far more solid: Arsenal’s defence. Mikel Arteta’s backline conceded just seven goals across a relentless European run, a foundation that underpinned their surge through the competition.

Gabriel knows exactly who helped him through the fallout.

“I only have to thank the fans,” he said. “Ever since the final, I've just received a lot of support from them. They were incredible, sending very positive messages. But like I said, it's part of football. I'm here, and it's not the first time something like this has happened.”

That connection between player and crowd mirrors the wider mood around the club. The synergy between Arteta’s squad and the North London faithful has reached a new level, driven by a historic domestic campaign that finally ended a 22-year wait for the Premier League title. The Champions League slipped away, but the league trophy came home, and Arsenal now stride into this season looking every inch like champions who expect to defend, not just dream.

Gabriel’s status has survived the European drama untouched. If anything, the rawness of that missed penalty has only deepened his bond with supporters who see a defender willing to own the moment, good or bad.

Controversy in the capital

His domestic story has not been short of flashpoints either.

In a fiery London derby win over Chelsea, Gabriel found himself at the centre of a storm after a high challenge on Blues goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez. On the pitch, he stayed on. Off it, the debate raged.

Many pundits questioned how he had avoided a red card. Wayne Rooney, speaking on BBC’s Match of the Day, did not hold back.

“You don’t really see it at first sight but then when you see a replay and they slow it down,” Rooney said. “Martinez has got the ball in his hands and Gabriel boots him in the head, he swings a leg and goes way over the top. He’s extremely lucky to stay on the pitch.”

Lucky or not, Gabriel walked away still central to Arteta’s plans, still a pillar in a side that has started the Premier League season with a ruthless edge.

Arteta’s ‘controlled chaos’ rolls on

Next stop: the Stadium of Light.

Arteta’s Arsenal juggernaut heads to Sunderland on Saturday, defending a perfect league start against a side that has built a reputation for resilience. The Spaniard continues to draw praise for reshaping the culture at the club, pushing players into uncomfortable territory to harden them for nights exactly like that one in Paris.

Arteta has even admitted to engineering “controlled chaos” in pre-season, deliberately disrupting routines and patterns to test his squad’s mental strength. Training sessions became stress tests. Order was broken to build resilience.

So far, the experiment looks inspired. Arsenal have opened the campaign with a cool, almost icy composure, a group that no longer flinches in the tightest of moments.

And somewhere inside that, Gabriel is still waiting for his next walk to the penalty spot.