Owen Hargreaves hails ‘special’ Arsenal star after Champions League win against Girona
Ethan Nwaneri earned more plaudits after his man-of-the-match performance in Arsenal’s 2-1 Champions League win over Girona.
Nwaneri scored the game’s deciding goal with a superb finish from outside the box to rubber stamp Arsenal’s top-eight finish and secure the Gunners a spot in the last-16.
Mikel Arteta’s side went behind early in the first half after Arnaut Danjuma capitalised on some questionable positioning from stand-in keeper Neto.
However, Arsenal hit back from the spot through Jorginho’s penalty before Nwaneri scored his first Champions League goal on his maiden start in the competition to complete the turnaround for the visitors.
Having made his debut two seasons ago, Nwaneri is finally enjoying his breakout season in the first team having been granted more playing time by Arteta.
His goal on Wednesday night was his sixth in all competitions and also saw him become the second youngest Englishman to score a Champions League goal, after Jude Bellingham.
And the midfielder’s all-round display in Spain earned rave reviews from pundits Martin Keown and Owen Hargreaves at full-time.
Nwaneri now has six goals in all comeptitions this season
Watching back Nwaneri’s goal, former Gunners centre-back Keown told TNT Sports: ‘I love it when a young player produces on the night.
‘We build him up at the start, saying what a great talent he was, and there is anger in that [finish] but control as well – he’s whipping that into the corner.
‘He’s got the abilty and he’s made that look really easy there.’
Hargreaves, meanwhlile, added: ‘The remarkable thing about him is the ball sticks to his foot – it’s never away from him.
Mikel Arteta was full of praise for Nwaneri’s display
‘I don’t want to say who he reminds me of because it puts pressure on him but he’s a special player.’
Arteta was equally impressed with the midfielder’s display in what proved a testing and hard-fought match against their Spanish oppostion.
‘He never does (look nervous),’ Arteta said of Nwaneri’s temperament to TNT Sports.
‘He’s so composed, so calm, so confident about his ability and when you can start in the Champions League at 17 and ascore a very important goal it’s not very common.’
Asked about his side’s third-place finish in the league phase, the Arsenal boss added: ‘It shows a lot of consistency and quality in what we deliever in the first eight games playing home and away.
‘The peformances have been very similar and hopefully it gives more confidence and belief to the team that we are a really good team and we can compete with anybody.
‘I think that’s a big thing in this competition to really have that trust in yourself.’
The Gunners now face a quick turnaround before Sunday’s huge clash with Manchester City in the Premier League.
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