MIKEL ARTETA believes Arsenal are proving they can beat anyone after Ethan Nwaneri inspired a fourth straight European victory.
The whizkid, 17, curled in a stunning solo goal to see off Girona and rubberstamp the Gunners’ spot in the last 16.
And delighted boss Arteta purred: “That’s what we love about him, that he’s willing to take the initiative to make things happen.
“He’s very aggressive when he’s on the ball and so confident. He made the right choice, he went for it — and it was a very important goal.
“We won the last four games in the Champions League — winning matches in this competition is very demanding.
“We faced a group that was very tricky and difficult but overall the team has been very consistent.
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“Hopefully there is more belief now in the dressing room that we are a good team and we can face anybody and still perform and win games.”
Nwaneri’s strike also helped to spare the blushes of 35-year-old Neto.
On his first appearance 152 days after a loan move from Bournemouth, the Brazilian keeper showed his rustiness with a Champions League howler.
He bizarrely raced out of his penalty box — out of excitement or sheer panic — only to then dive with an outstretched hand as Girona’s Arnaut Danjuma whipped in a 28th-minute opener.
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Had Neto got fingers to the ball he would have surely been sent off — another red that would have almost certainly pushed Arteta over the edge.
Instead, the Gunners hit back via Jorginho’s penalty and Nwaneri’s cracker.
Arsenal survived a late scare as Cristhian Stuani’s 77th-minute equaliser was ruled out for offside by VAR before Raheem Sterling missed a late penalty.
The path is now clear. One of either Feyenoord, Juventus, AC Milan or PSV await them in the knockouts.
Arteta had been searching for a time to use his No 2 keeper — unable to play Neto in the Carabao Cup due to being cup-tied — and this tie against a knocked-out Girona with just one European win to their name looked the perfect chance.
But after this showing, the manager may now think twice before bringing Neto in from the cold again. Spanish No 1 David Raya missed out due to a “lack of fitness” — leaving him sweating on facing Manchester City in Sunday’s Premier League crunch.
Arteta said: “He certainly could not play and he’s injured and that’s it. We’ll see how it improves.”
Arsenal went close to taking the lead. Riccardo Calafiori was narrowly offside from a Sterling pass before netting.
Girona were growing in confidence, thanks mainly to Danjuma terrorising Thomas Partey at right-back.
A cheeky nutmeg on Partey saw him shimmy inside and threaten, then he beat him again and saw Neto miles out of his box, making for a simple finish from distance.
Who faces who in the Champions League?
Here’s a look at the ties across the competition…
Teams who finished from ninth to 24th in the Champions League league phase will play off to decide who reaches the last-16.
PLAYOFF ROUND
Atalanta vs Sporting Lisbon or Club Brugge
Borussia Dortmund vs Sporting Lisbon or Club Brugge
Real Madrid vs Celtic or Man City
Bayern Munich vs Celtic or Man City
AC Milan vs Feyenoord or Juventus
PSV vs Feyenoord or Juventus
PSG vs AS Monaco or Brest
Benfica vs AS Monaco or Brest
Winners of playoff ties will then face the teams who finished in the top eight of the league phase in the last-16…
LAST 16
Liverpool vs PSG/Benfica/AS Monaco/Brest
Barcelona vs PSG/Benfica/AS Monaco/Brest
Arsenal vs AC Milan/PSV Eindhoven/Feyenoord/Juventus
Inter Milan vs AC Milan/PSV Eindhoven/Feyenoord/Juventus
Atletico Madrid vs Real Madrid/Bayern Munich/Celtic/Man City
Bayer Leverkusen vs Real Madrid/Bayern Munich/Celtic/Man City
Lille vs Atalanta/Borussia Dortmund/Sporting Lisbon/Club Brugge
Aston Villa vs Atalanta/Borussia Dortmund/Sporting Lisbon/Club Brugge
Arsenal ratings vs Girona as Neto has a shocker on debut but is rescued by wonderkid
NETO endured a nightmare Arsenal debut against Girona but had 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri to thank for sparing his blushes.
SunSport’s Henry Tomlinson has provided his ratings for the Arsenal team…
Neto – 4
He made his long-awaited debut, having joined Arsenal on loan from Bournemouth last summer.
The goalkeeper got away with an early mistake and was caught out by former Spurs star Arnaut Danjuma.
Thomas Partey 45′ – 6
Too aggressive from the right-back spot and was beaten for pace by Danjuma as Girona opened the scoring.
Partey struggled with the winger for much of the game which gave the hosts an edge.
Managed to win a penalty to give Arsenal a route back into the game after a needless challenge but was hooked at half-time.
Jakub Kiwior – 6
The defender put in a decent shift at the back and was able to keep Abel Ruiz quiet for much of the match.
Gabriel Magalhaes – 6
Like Kiwior, Gabriel was fairly solid against Girona and dealt with most of the danger from the hosts.
Riccardo Calafiori 69′ – 6
Thought he scored the opener but was a good foot offside.
Continued to be positive up the wing and helped the Gunners up the pitch.
Mikel Merino – 6
Merino was fine against Girona. It was not a performance that will grab headlines but did what he needed to do in midfield.
Jorginho 80′ – 7
It’s been a while, but the Italian was back on the scoresheet after converting from the spot in the 38th minute.
The midfielder was composed on the ball and helped recycle the ball and control possession.
Martin Odegaard – 6
It was a quiet night for the Gunners captain as he helped the team maintain the ball but lacked that creative spark.
Raheem Sterling – 4
Struggled to make a big impact in the first half and was the weakest of all of the Gunners’ frontline.
To make matters worse, he was booked for diving in the 70th minute.
And just as he though it couldn’t get even worse, he missed a penalty late on.
Leandro Trossard 69′ – 6
Should have given Arsenal the lead early on but was unable to deflect the ball goalwards.
Continued to prob and rattled the crossbar before the break with a powerful effort.
Ethan Nwaneri 85′ – 8
The youngster showed why he is one of the most promising players at the club with a wonder strike in the first half.
He wrapped a curling effort into the top corner before half-time on his first Champions League start.
His goal saw him become the second youngest English goalscorer in the history of thre Champions League.
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Jurrien Timber 45′ – 6
Added some energy down the left-hand side after replacing Partey at half-time.
Kai Havertz 69′ – 6
Got involved in the attack but struggled to find a clear scoring chance,
Myles Lewis-Skelly 69′ – 6
Another comfortable outing for the impressive youngster.
Declan Rice 80′ – 6
Came on in the final stages to help solidify the defence for the Gunners and put in some dangerous corners.
He did pick up a booking late on.
Gabriel Martinelli 85′ – N/A
Replaced Nwaneri late on and looked dangerous on the wing for the final minutes.
Arsenal were all over the shop as Jakub Kiwior gave up another chance — but they were handed a lifeline thanks to Arnau Martinez clattering Partey.
Jorginho hopped and skipped his penalty technique for a 38th-minute leveller.
Four minutes later, Arsenal’s teenage sensation put them in front, dribbling across the box and picking his spot with a curling beauty.
A first Champions League goal on his first competition start.
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Arteta threw on the big guns in Declan Rice and Kai Havertz to see out a no-thrills victory. But they could not finish in style as Sterling’s penalty after Alejandro Frances’ handball was saved.
Even so, Champions League dreaming can officially begin.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
