Arsenal star Eberechi Eze has received support from Super Eagles defender Bright Osayi-Samuel following his costly penalty miss in the UEFA Champions League final loss to PSG on Saturday, Soccernet.ng reports.
The Gunners faced PSG at the Puskas Arena in a highly anticipated final that eventually struggled to live up to the hype.
Arsenal took an early lead in the 6th minute through Kai Havertz, after which they adopted an ultra-defensive approach, keeping all eleven men behind the ball. PSG struggled to break down the Gunners' rigid defensive structure for much of the match.
However, the pressure from Les Parisiens finally paid off in the 65th minute when Ousmane Dembele converted a penalty to level the score.
The game remained stayed at 1-1 through extra time, forcing a penalty shootout. Eze, who started on the bench, was introduced in extra time to replace Havertz. When the match went into spot-kicks, the Anglo-Nigerian was among the designated takers. However, he failed to deliver, as he dragged his effort wide.
While David Raya kept Arsenal’s hopes alive by saving Nuno Mendes’ penalty, Eze’s miss proved decisive after Gabriel Magalhaes subsequently fired his effort over the bar, ensuring that PSG ran out with the win.
Osayi-Samuel Backs Eberechi Eze After Arsenal Heartbreak
Eze has faced significant criticism for his penalty miss, but Super Eagles star Bright Osayi-Samuel has taken to social media to defend his friend. The 28-year-old shared a video of Eze with the caption, “Still the GOAT.”
Osayi-Samuel’s public support is unsurprising. Asides from their shared Nigerian heritage, they both grew up playing football together and were teammates at Queens Park Rangers (QPR). Although Eze chose to represent England internationally and Osayi-Samuel committing to Nigeria, the two have maintained a close relationship.
The Arsenal star will now look to move past this disappointment as he shifts his focus toward representing England at the 2026 World Cup.
