Arsenal fans in despair and players in tears as they lose Champions League final on penalties after their star centre back blazed his kick over the crossbar

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Arsenal fans are despairing after they fell victim to football’s cruelest fate: defeat on penalties in the Champions League final.

It is the Gunners’ second heartbreak in European football’s major final: The first came against Barcelona in a 2-1 defeat in 2006 before this loss at the hands of back-to-back winners Paris Saint-Germain.

Kai Havertz opened the scoring inside the first five minutes of the final but PSG levelled with Ousmane Dembele’s penalty on 64 minutes. The teams went to extra-time but neither could find a winner, meaning the dreaded decider for all English teams: penalties.

Eberechi Eze missed Arsenal’s second spot kick but Portuguese star Nuno Mendes then saw his kick saved by David Raya. Arsenal’s players were otherwise near-perfect but when it came to centre back Gabriel for the fifth and final penalty, he blazed over the crossbar.

More to follow. 

It was heartbreak for Arsenal fans in their Champions League final defeat in Budapest

It was heartbreak for Arsenal fans in their Champions League final defeat in Budapest

Arsenal fans in a pub despair in their Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain

Arsenal fans in a pub despair in their Champions League final against Paris Saint-Germain

Arsenal fans react as they see their team lose the penalty shoot-out near to their stadium

Arsenal fans react as they see their team lose the penalty shoot-out near to their stadium

Tears flowed for Arsenal fans after Gabriel missed the crucial penalty in Budapest

Tears flowed for Arsenal fans after Gabriel missed the crucial penalty in Budapest

Gabriel missed - and then was engulfed by celebrating PSG players close to him

Gabriel missed – and then was engulfed by celebrating PSG players close to him

Arsenal fans in Budapest celebrated Kai Havertz's goal early on - but pain was to follow

Arsenal fans in Budapest celebrated Kai Havertz’s goal early on – but pain was to follow

Fans watched on their phones outside the Emirates Stadium while others flooded the pubs

Fans watched on their phones outside the Emirates Stadium while others flooded the pubs

London's beer gardens were packed as fans gathered around big screens at Boxpark

London’s beer gardens were packed as fans gathered around big screens at Boxpark

Thousands travelled to Budapest without tickets and watched from fan parks and bars

Thousands travelled to Budapest without tickets and watched from fan parks and bars

Havertz's goal came in the first six minutes of the match - some fans watched on giant TVs at the Emirates Stadium

Havertz’s goal came in the first six minutes of the match – some fans watched on giant TVs at the Emirates Stadium




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