Pundit Steven Gerrard in action against Liverpool 1-4 PSV (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)
Arsenal lost to PSG in today’s UEFA Champions League final.
Both teams fought off each other in overtime, and the match was decided in a penalty shootout. Ebelesi Eze and Gabriel Magalhães both missed shots and former Liverpool star Steven Gerrard criticized Eze’s sluggish run-up before the penalty kick.
Gerard, who won the UEFA Champions League with Liverpool, explained that players are already under a lot of pressure during penalty shootouts in games of this size and Eze only made it harder for himself.
Steven Gerrard said: TNT Sports (h/t Metro): “Penalties are hard enough. Think about the size of the game, the stadium, the atmosphere. It’s hard enough without all that nonsense. Step in, get your technique back.”
Eze joined Arsenal from Crystal Palace at the start of the season. He has had a very disappointing season personally and has struggled to earn regular minutes. He was outstanding at Crystal Palace during his time with the Eagles, but was unable to reach that level at his new club. A missed penalty in the UEFA Champions League final would make things even worse for him.
It remains to be seen whether he can recover from this disappointment and return to his best next season. There is no doubt that he is a quality player and could be a force for Arsenal next season.
Arsenal won the Premier League title but would have hoped to win their first UEFA Champions League trophy. They played strong defensively, but their lack of quality going forward ultimately cost them.
