Chelsea mocked Arsenal just moments after their London rivals lost the Champions League final on penalties. The Gunners were beaten 4-3 in a shootout after Gabriel Magalhaes blazed the key penalty over the crossbar. The two teams could not be separated after extra time, drawing 1-1, with Ousmane Dembele’s second-half penalty cancelling out ex-Chelsea forward Kai Havertz’s sixth-minute opener in Budapest.
But Arsenal suffered heartbreak despite David Raya saving from Nuno Mendes. Eberechi Eze sent his spot-kick wide before Gabriel fired into the skies with Arsenal’s final attempt from 12 yards. And just minutes after Gabriel missed from the spot, two-time European Cup winners Chelsea took to social media to write: “Come and visit London’s Home of Trophies. Book your Stadium Tour at Stamford Bridge now.” The Blues’ post included pictures of their replica Champions League and Club World Cup trophies, as well as snaps of banners inside their home stadium that read ‘London’s finest’ and ‘Pride of London’.
The post, as expected, went down very well with Chelsea fans, who enjoyed the chance to remind Arsenal of the fact they have won the Champions League twice – in 2012 and 2021. The north Londoners, meanwhile, have lost their only two finals in the competition after being beaten by Barcelona in Paris in 2006 before this latest heartbreak.
Gutted Arsenal midfielder Declan Rice, who started off in Chelsea’s academy as a kid before being released at the age of 14, reacted: “It’s gutting. It’s devastating to lose the Champions League final on penalties. But an incredible season. We gave it absolutely everything. It’s a lottery and that’s football.
“Some of the best teams ever have lost on penalties in finals. We win together, we lose together and I’m so proud of this group and these boys. What a season. It’s been incredible. I’m obviously gutted but it’s been an incredible journey this season. We’ll be back.”