Arsenal were not awarded a penalty in the Champions League final defeat to PSG with several pundits giving their verdicts
20:16, 30 May 2026Updated 20:36, 30 May 2026
Noni Madueke of Arsenal appeals for a penalty after a challenge by Nuno Mendes of Paris Saint-Germain
View Image
Noni Madueke of Arsenal appeals for a penalty after a challenge by Nuno Mendes of Paris Saint-Germain(Image: Jacques Feeney/Offside/Offside via Getty Images)
Arsenal were told they could feel 'hard done by' as TNT Sports pundits had their say on the controversial decision that denied Mikel Arteta's men a penalty in their Champions League final defeat to Paris Saint-Germain. The Gunners were held to a 1-1 draw in the showpiece fixture in Budapest after 90 minutes, with the tie going to extra time and then a penalty shootout.
Arsenal lost the shootout 4-3, with Gabriel Magalhaes missing the final spot-kick and being immediately consoled by his teammates, as well as PSG star Marquinhos, his teammate for Brazil.
In extra time, Arsenal appealed for a penalty when Noni Madueke went to ground following a shoulder-to-shoulder battle with Nuno Mendes.
Referee Daniel Siebert did not point to the spot, and there was no VAR intervention, with the on-field decision of no penalty remaining unchanged.
Several pundits on TNT Sports reacted to the decision not to award Arsenal a penalty, with the decision dividing opinions.
Arsenal legend Martin Keown explained why he thinks a penalty was not awarded for the Gunners. “Mendes, what saves him, he just gets his arm across, which remains goal side,” Keown said.
“If he's completely the other side there, that's a penalty. The referee's right on the spot, I don't think VAR will see enough in that to overrule the referee's decision.”
Secure your ultimate European discount before the final whistle with 76% off NordVPN
The ultimate showdown is here. Arsenal are on the march in the Champions League this weekend, ready to fight for Europe's biggest prize and secure their place in football history.
Now is your chance to make your own championship-winning play, by switching to NordVPN. But just like the race to the final whistle, there’s a strict deadline to lock in this world-class deal.
Our Champions League coverage is brought to you in association with NordVPN, the UK's number one VPN according to TechRadar.
A VPN protects your internet connection and online privacy by creating an encrypted tunnel for your data and hiding your IP address, allowing you to safely stream the big match even on public Wi-Fi. With NordVPN, you can block malicious websites, stop web trackers, and monitor data leaks all in one app.
Get 76% off your NordVPN deal for the first two years plus four months extra free.
TNT Sports commentator Ally McCoist stated that he believes a penalty should have been given in Arsenal’s favour.
“I think I'm giving that, you know,” McCoist said. “The only thing is, you look at Madueke's left arm, comes across as well.”
*FOLLOW OUR ARSENAL FB PAGE!Latest Gunners news, analysis and much more via our dedicated Facebook page*
Liverpool legend Steven Gerrard described the challenge from Mendes as ‘clumsy’ when giving his verdict.
“Do you know what? I think it's very clumsy from Mendes. I also think there's a bit of contact, I think Arsenal can be hard done by, in my opinion.”
Former Arsenal star Jack Wilshere explained why he thinks that if a penalty were given, there would not be many complaints that the wrong decision was made.
He said: “I think Ally [McCoist] described it perfectly, I mean, I've seen them given, and if it was given, I don't think we'd say 'Ah, that's definitely not a penalty’.
Article continues below
“You can see, the players on the pitch, they know, and Dec [Rice] was fuming, and he went to the ref, so, I can see it, I've seen them given.”