Matvéi Safónov explains how he made Eze miss Champions League final penalty

Eberechi Eze missed Arsenal’s second penalty in the Champions League final against PSG, and the French club’s goalkeeper, Matvei Safonov, has revealed how he played a role in the miss.

Eze is typically good from the spot, which probably explains why he was allowed to take the second kick. The Englishman simply had to get it right.

The attacker is one of the best in the business, and given the importance of the game, he was expected to convert his kick. However, he missed, and that started the negative spell for the Gunners from the penalty spot.

Although Nuno Mendes would miss the next one for PSG, Gabriel ultimately ballooned Arsenal’s last kick to hand PSG the trophy in back-to-back seasons and leave the Gunners still without a Champions League trophy.

Safonov explains his role

This season, Arsenal will attempt to win it again, and if they face PSG in the knockout rounds again, the Gunners will do their best to pay them back for that painful loss.

As the new Champions League campaign begins, Safonov has revisited that final and discussed how he put Eze off to make the Arsenal man miss his kick.

He said via Sport Witness:

“I reckon I bear some of the responsibility for that. He was watching my position, waiting for me to make my move. I remained completely still. Seeing no clue, he had to improvise his run-up and shot at the very last moment.

Safonov claims decisive impact

“If I’d taken a step to my left in anticipation, he would have easily opened up his foot to the other side, as that’s his speciality. By staying rock-solid, I closed off that comfortable option for him. That is precisely the role of a goalkeeper: to throw the attacker off his game.”

Safonov’s comments offer an insight into the psychological battle between a goalkeeper and penalty taker, with the PSG goalkeeper believing that his decision to remain still forced Eze to alter his approach at the crucial moment.

For Arsenal, the missed penalty became an important moment in a painful final, with Gabriel subsequently missing the final kick and PSG ultimately securing the trophy.

The Gunners will now look to put that disappointment behind them as they attempt to win the Champions League this season.

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