Arsenal put Champions League defeat behind them with open-top bus parade

Arsenal defender Gabriel admitted their Champions League penalty shoot-out defeat was “painful”, but the Gunners quickly put the disappointment behind them as fans attended an open-top bus parade.

Gabriel missed the crucial spot-kick against Paris St Germain as the French champions retained their crown following a 1-1 draw in Budapest.

Yet the Gunners still had plenty to celebrate as they embarked on a parade through the streets of north London to celebrate their Premier League title success.

“It’s painful, but I’m proud of this team and everything we achieved together this season,” Gabriel wrote on Instagram.

“Thank you to our incredible fans for your support every step of the way. You deserve to celebrate this journey with us and enjoy the parade today!

“See you next season!”

Mikel Arteta’s squad left the Emirates Stadium at 2.15pm to begin their 5.6-mile journey around the parade route.

Captain Martin Odegaard was the first player to board the bus, adorned with ‘Champions 25/26’, holding the Premier League trophy.

The Gunners had been hoping for a double celebration by following up their league success with a first Champions League trophy in the club’s 140-year history.

Kai Havertz fired them into an early lead in the Hungarian capital, but PSG equalized through Ousmane Dembele’s penalty, and Eberechi Eze and Gabriel both missed in the shoot-out.

Gabriel and Eze appeared in good spirits on the bus despite the agony of the night before, while Arteta smiled broadly as he waved to the crowds.

Members of the Arsenal staff followed on a second bus, while the women’s team were on a third bus parading the FIFA Champions Cup they won in February.

Fans began arriving along the route in the early hours