Arsenal’s wait to emulate Chelsea and become the seventh English side to win the European Cup, or the Champions League, goes on as Noni Madueke’s side lost on penalties to PSG last night.
After winning the Premier League title, Arsenal’s fanbase made their way to Budapest to take on PSG. The current holders of the Champions League and the side to knock Chelsea out of this year’s competition.
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Kai Havertz played his part. The man who scored the winner in Chelsea’s last Champions League win put Arsenal ahead, only for Ousmane Dembele to equalise after Cristian Mosquera conceded a penalty.
In fact Arsenal’s side included former Chelsea academy prospect Declan Rice and Havertz. Noni Madueke came off the bench and Kepa Arrizabalaga remained an unused sub as the Gunners lost on penalties.
Chelsea fans stunned by Noni Madueke not taking a penalty
The eyes of the footballing world watched on as the game entered penalties. Eberechi Eze was the first to miss a spot-kick, before Gabriel was tasked with scoring and blazed over the bar as PSG secured the win.
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But what caught the attention of Chelsea fans during the penalty shootout was winger Madueke failing to take one of the five spot-kicks. Viktor Gyokeres, Declan Rice and Gabriel Martinelli also took penalties.
It surprised Chelsea fans, who had seen England’s 2026 World Cup winner try to physically take the ball off Cole Palmer during a 6-0 win over Everton in 2024 ahead of a Chelsea penalty, which Palmer scored.
One fan sarcastically alluded to that night against Everton, compared to Arsenal’s loss to PSG, posting: “Strange Madueke didn’t take a penalty. He was always so desperate to take them at Chelsea.”
Another said that at the time, fans was questioning why Palmer didn’t give it to Madueke. He says Madueke’s no-show when it came to penalties last night proved why: “Yesterday answered all that”.
It isn’t a good look for Madueke, with another suggesting Madueke “hides on the crucial occasion” but is happy to take a penalty when 4-0 up. England will need him to be able to take spot-kicks this summer.
What Noni Madueke said about Chelsea before Arsenal’s loss
Arsenal’s confidence was sky-high going into Saturday night’s clash. Mike Arteta even announced after the Gunners’ win over Crystal Palace that Arsenal were going to go and win the Champions League.
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That has not turned out to be the case, taking off the shine of a brilliant season. But Madueke’s inability to take a penalty comes just days after he dissed Chelsea publicly when discussing his Arsenal move.
Asked if he could have ever imagined things going so well at The Emirates since his move from West London, Madueke said: “I did, that’s why I came so quickly from where I was.”
Hopefully this summer, Madueke can mirror the success Arsenal have had in the Premier League, not in Europe, when England look to end a 60-year wait for a World Cup trophy in USA, Mexico and Canada.
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