(Credit: Imago)
(Credit: Imago)

Viktor Gyokeres reacts to Kai Havertz's 'unbelievable' message after Arsenal's Champions League final defeat

Ciaran Morrison

Correspondent AUTHORITY Football finance journalist specialising in the financial landscape of the Premier League and SPFL. FOCUS Financial analysis, club economics, and data-led coverage across the top flight and Scottish football. THE INSIGHT Ciaran utilises a network of financial and industry contacts to deliver verified, data-driven analysis. He provides the numbers behind the noise to ensure fans understand the fiscal reality driving decisions at the top of the game.

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Arsenal striker Kai Havertz has shared a message to supporters after the north London club lost to PSG in the Champions League final.

Havertz opened the scoring for the Gunners inside six minutes, but his solitary goal was not enough for Arsenal to win their first ever Champions League trophy.

Ousmane Dembele levelled from the spot in the second half, before penalties decided the contest after a 1-1 draw across 120 minutes of action.

Eberechi Eze and Gabriel both missed the target from 12 yards, as Mikel Arteta's side will have to settle for just the Premier League title this season.

The Premier League still represents a successful season for Arsenal, but Arteta may be left to rue what could have been in Budapest.

Kai Havertz reflects on 'unbelievable season'

Havertz started the final, and so the German was not on the pitch when the game went to a penalty shootout.

The 26-year-old was replaced by Eze in extra-time, despite his pedigree from the penalty spot, and his record of only having missed once in his career.

Minutes Played90
Shots3
Accurate Passes76%
Touches29
Duels Won44%
Kai Havertz Champions League final stats vs PSG.

Victory over PSG would have meant Havertz would have secured his second Champions League title of his career, after scoring the winning goal for Chelsea in the 2021 final over Manchester City.

After the match, Havertz took to Instagram to share a message with Arsenal fans, with the striker looking to the positives after the defeat, which was liked by many of his teammates including Viktor Gyokeres, David Raya and Leandro Trossard.

Havertz posted: "An unbelievable season which didn’t end in the way we all dreamed of. That doesn’t change the fact we are still champions of England!

"Looking forward to celebrating that with the thousands of fans tomorrow in North London! Thank you for all the support this season."

Former FIFA ref drops verdict on penalty controversy

Arsenal felt they should have been awarded a penalty before the game went to spot kicks, when the Gunners had a claim waved away by referee Daniel Siebert in the second half of extra time.

Noni Madueke thought he was impeded by PSG full-back Nuno Mendes as he darted into the penalty area.

Former PGMOL chief Keith Hackett exclusively told Football Insider that Arsenal's calls for a penalty were justified, and that Siebert should have been sent to the monitor.

Hackett believes VAR would not have overturned the decision had Siebert pointed to the spot, but his decision was not a clear and obvious error.

www.footballinsider247.com