Declan Rice rallies behind devastated Eberechi Eze after Champions League heartbreak

Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice has thrown his support behind Eberechi Eze and Gabriel after the pair endured the agony of missed penalties in the Gunners’ heartbreaking UEFA Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.

The north London side looked destined for a famous night after taking an early lead through Kai Havertz, raising hopes of completing a historic domestic and European double. However, PSG fought back to level the contest before eventually prevailing in a dramatic penalty shootout.

Arsenal’s dream start slips away

Arsenal made the perfect start to the final when Havertz struck just six minutes into the match, putting Mikel Arteta’s men firmly in control.

With the Premier League title already secured, the Gunners were within touching distance of adding a first Champions League crown to their collection. But PSG gradually worked their way back into the contest and found an equaliser shortly after the hour mark when Ousmane Dembele converted from the penalty spot.

Neither side could find a winner in the remaining minutes, forcing the final into penalties to determine the destination of Europe’s biggest club prize.

Shootout pain for Eze and Gabriel

The shootout produced moments of both hope and heartbreak for Arsenal.

Eze became the first Arsenal player to miss from the spot, but goalkeeper David Raya immediately kept his side alive by denying Nuno Mendes.

The pressure then shifted to Gabriel, who stepped up to take Arsenal’s fifth penalty knowing the club’s fate rested on his shoulders. The Brazilian defender blazed his effort over the crossbar, handing PSG victory and leaving Arsenal players devastated at the final whistle.

The painful ending overshadowed what had otherwise been an outstanding campaign for a side that captured the Premier League title and reached the latter stages of Europe’s elite competition.

Rice backs teammates to bounce back

Despite the disappointment, Rice was quick to defend both players and insisted neither should be defined by a single moment.

“(They are) devastated to miss a penalty in a Champions League final, obviously It’s not nice. But we love them and we’re with them,” Rice told TNT Sports after the match.

The England international stressed that penalty misses are an unavoidable part of football and expressed confidence that both players would recover from the setback.

“It happens in football. They’re not going to be the last players to miss penalties in finals.

“Everyone’s missed a penalty and without those two this season we wouldn’t have won the Premier League, that’s for sure.”

Focus shifts to the future

Rice reserved special praise for Gabriel and highlighted the impact both players have made throughout Arsenal’s campaign.

“Gabriel, I’ve ran out of words for him as a person as a player. Eze has had some crucial goals for us this season. It happens, It’s football and it’s cruel. We take positives and we keep going.”

His comments reflected the mood within the Arsenal camp as players sought to process the disappointment of falling short on the biggest stage. While the Champions League trophy slipped through their grasp, Rice’s message was clear: Eze and Gabriel remain central figures in the club’s success and will continue to have the full backing of their teammates.

For Arsenal, the defeat will sting for some time. Yet after a season that delivered the Premier League title and a run to the Champions League final, the focus will eventually turn to ensuring this painful experience becomes fuel for another challenge next season.