Arsenal vs PSG final: Mosquera’s escape and Eze’s miss define the story

The Arsenal vs PSG final turned on two moments that will be replayed for a long time. Cristhian Mosquera escaped a second yellow after fouling Khvicha Kvaratskhelia in the box, Ousmane Dembélé scored the penalty, and Arsenal later lost the shootout after Eberechi Eze missed from the spot.

Why Graham Scott thought Mosquera had a case for a second yellow

Graham Scott’s read was blunt. He told caughtoffside.com: "That was definitely a penalty for PSG and they had a strong case for a second yellow card to be shown to Mosquera. However, it was more clumsy and careless than it was reckless, and there was still a promising attack in the form of a penalty."

That distinction matters. Mosquera had already been booked for time wasting just after the interval, so the second-yellow argument was there from the start of the incident. He then fouled Kvaratskhelia inside the 18-yard box, Dembélé converted, and Mikel Arteta withdrew Mosquera a minute later for his own protection. Mosquera lasted 66 minutes in all, which tells you how close the issue came to becoming a far bigger problem for Arsenal.

The cleanest reading is also the simplest one: the referee could have shown a second yellow, but the punishment that actually arrived was the penalty. Scott’s explanation gives the decision enough cover, even if plenty of people watching will still think Mosquera was living dangerously.

Why Gerrard went after Eberechi Eze

Steven Gerrard did not bother with soft language when he spoke about Eberechi Eze’s penalty. "Penalties are hard enough. Think about the magnitude of the game, the stadium, the atmosphere, it's hard enough without any of that nonsense. Put your foot through it, back your technique," he said on TNT Sports.

That criticism lands because Eze had only 30 minutes on the pitch before the shootout. He still had to take one of the biggest penalties of the night, and Gerrard clearly wanted a cleaner, more direct action rather than the stuttered routine that failed. Viktor Gyökeres scored Arsenal’s first penalty, so the miss did not come from a team already out of rhythm from the spot.

Arsenal did get a response straight after. David Raya saved Nuno Mendes’ penalty immediately after Eze’s miss, which kept the contest alive for a few more kicks. Gabriel still missed Arsenal’s final penalty, and PSG took the title.

The debate around Eze’s technique is less about hindsight than about trust. Gerrard wanted the simplest version of the kick, and on a night this tense, that was probably the safer idea.

Arsenal still had chances, but the shootout margin was tiny

The final was not short on Arsenal positives. David Raya made 3 saves in normal time, Declan Rice was Arsenal’s top-rated outfield player at 7.7, and Gabriel still posted a 7.0 rating despite the missed penalty. Kai Havertz had also put Arsenal ahead in the 6th minute from Leandro Trossard’s assist.

Those details do not change the outcome, but they do explain why the shootout felt so open until the end. Raya gave Arsenal a chance, Rice kept competing, and then the penalties pulled the final away from them one kick at a time.

Mosquera’s let-off, Eze’s miss and Gabriel’s final miss are the moments that will be picked over most. PSG won the title after the match finished 1-1 and the shootout went against Arsenal.