You need to make everything count in the Champions League final, but one Arsenal star made a huge error which Steven Gerrard believes enraged Mikel Arteta
19:20, 30 May 2026Updated 19:38, 30 May 2026
Noni Madueke of Arsenal reacts during the UEFA Champions League Final 2026 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal FC at Puskas Arena on May 30, 2026 in Budapest, Hungary.
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Noni Madueke was a second half substitute in the Champions League final(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
Steven Gerrard believes Noni Madueke's awful corner against Paris Saint-Germain left Mikel Arteta "tearing his hair out". Before the Champions League final, Arsenal's quality with set-pieces was repeatedly talked about.
The north Londoners' ability to score from dead ball situations helped them win the Premier League and reach the European showpiece in Budapest. In the first half against PSG, they were handed one corner, which they were not allowed to take as it took place after added time had ran out.
But in extra-time, they earned a corner and the Arsenal fans began to anticipate a massive goal. Instead, Madueke's corner curled off the pitch and did not even reach the near post.
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Gerrard and Ally McCoist, who were both on commentary duty in the showpiece at the Puskas Arena, were not impressed with the corner.
The ex-Liverpool skipper said: "You'd be pulling your hair out if you are Mikel Arteta. What a waste of an opportunity," while an equally flabbergasted McCoist commented: "Can't believe he's done that."
The camera quickly panned to Arteta and set-piece coach Nicolas Jover, who both looked to be furious with the delivery. That was not the only time Madueke was at the centre of the action.
Mikel Arteta, Manager of Arsenal, reacts alongside Nicolas Jover, Arsenal set-piece coach during the UEFA Champions League Final 2026 match between Paris Saint-Germain and Arsenal FC at Puskas Arena on May 30, 2026 in Budapest, Hungary
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Arteta and Jover were disappointed with the poor delivery(Image: 2026 Sports Press Photo)
The ex-Chelsea forward powered down the left-hand side of the pitch and got tangled up with PSG left-back Nuno Mendes. Several Arsenal players, including Declan Rice, furiously protested for a penalty, but the officials and the VAR were not interested.
Rice received a booking for his dissent, such was his anger at the decision. Gerrard, McCoist and Jack Wilshere, who was positioned elsewhere, both said "we've seen them given" but also agreed it was "not a clear and obvious error".
Madueke began the contest on the bench, with Arteta deploying Leandro Trossard, Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka as the front three. He then turned to the ex-Tottenham star in the 83rd minute, bringing off his England World Cup colleague.
This season, having joined Arsenal from Chelsea for £48.5million last summer, Madueke has contributed eight goals and four assists in his debut campaign, including three goals and an assist in the Gunners' Champions League campaign.
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