Penalties. Does Arsene Wenger not like penalties. The answer is an emphatic `no', especially when they have to be taken at the end where the Arsenal support is not. Davor Suker and Patrick Vieira's twin disappointment was played out in front of the Galatasaray fans, a situation which Wenger called "unfair" afterwards.

Wenger made his remark with an UEFA official sitting beside him and the man in the blazer had the temerity to disagree with the Arsenal manager. The blazer claimed that the referee, unsure as to which end to stage the penalty shoot-out, tossed a coin in the presence of two UEFA representatives. Wenger doubted the veracity of the claim and said: "It could have been done in front of the two captains. I think it's really unfair, though I don't say that's why we lost. But it's the third time this season we have lost on penalties. It's becoming too much."

Fatih Terim, Galatasaray's jubilant manager, obviously had a different perspective. "This is a big deal for us and for Turkey," he said. "A lot of people have suffered greatly from the earthquake and if we have brought them some comfort then that is a good thing. It's good to see one of the clubs from the smaller countries winning a European cup. It can get a bit boring if the power blocs keep them."

Terim then addressed the hooliganism that had preceded the final. "Football should bring us together," he said. "Finals like this should bring us together for football, not for fighting." It was a tribute to both teams that the game obscured the violence, if only for two hours and seven penalties.