I checked a few articles though, and they all seem to say that 1) Python offers better error handling than Perl

It is a shame that you have not linked to these articles - not even one of them - so that we can discover in what way the authors think that Python offers better error handling. All I can do therefore is say that in all my many years of working with Perl never once have I thought "Perl's error handling could be better".

2)Functions are first class citizens in Python

Super. What does that give you that you can do with functions in Python that you cannot do with functions (subroutines) in Perl?

3)Even for the kind of reporting I am looking for, Python would be a better choice.

Again, no link so no reason why. Here, I'll say it: "Perl would be a better choice". I present as much evidence to back up this claim as you have done so far, ie. none.

Actually, I'll do better than that. Perl has CPAN and CPAN has many modules for working with accursed Excel spreadsheets should you so need - even on non-native Excel platforms. Perl is (almost entirely) backwards compatible with itself so you don't need to ask, "python2 or python3"? Perl is already installed on any O/S you might be using (except MSWin, of course).

For any given task, to choose the language which is most appropriate you must consider the key aspects of that task and then you can whittle down your choice to those languages which satisfy those requirements. Then you can dig into nuance. And finally there is the choice of which language you want to use and why. I almost always want to use Perl because (a) it has all the tools, (b) it is expressive and (c) is it (to me) intuitive. Its speed and ubiquity are just bonuses.