Former Premier League player, Owen Hargreaves has raised concerns regarding Arsenal midfielder, Eberechi Eze’s approach to penalty shootouts after the Gunners’ devastating loss to PSG in the Champions League final on Saturday evening.
PSG successfully secured a consecutive Champions League title by triumphing over Premier League leaders Arsenal in a penalty shootout held in Budapest.
Former Chelsea striker Kai Havertz gave Arsenal an early lead with a remarkable strike, but Ousmane Dembele equalized with a penalty in the second half.
Neither team managed to score a winner during regular time or the additional 30 minutes, leading to PSG maintaining their composure during the penalty shootout.
Eze faltered during his run-up and sent his shot wide, while Gabriel’s attempt soared over the bar, sealing PSG’s status as back-to-back European champions.
Hargreaves, a former Manchester United player, expressed his thoughts on TNT Sports, critiquing Eze’s penalty technique by stating, “I’ve never been a big fan of that run-up; I believe it adds pressure.
“I prefer players to choose their corner and strike it decisively. With that approach, if you hesitate, it can create uncertainty in your mind, especially if the goalkeeper remains still.
“I sympathize with him and Gabriel, as they are both exceptional players. However, I believe it is essential to eliminate doubt by running up and striking the penalty rather than hesitating.”
Arsenal participated in their first Champions League final in two decades, just a week after clinching their first Premier League title since 2004.
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