What Mikel Arteta learned as Ethan Nwaneri inspires Arsenal to victory in Girona

Mikel Arteta fielded a strong Arsenal squad despite the Gunners virtually secured an automatic round of 16 spot as their Champions League group phase ended with victory in Girona

Mikel Arteta had to endure a hard-fought night as Arsenal edged to a 2-1 victory against Girona.

Arsenal headed to Spain to take on Girona knowing that only an incredible state of events would see them fail to finish in the top eight of the Champions League league phase. The Gunners had themselves a three-point gap and a substantial goal difference advantage to the chasing pack.

Despite their all-but assured round of 16 place, barring a complete collapse against the side who had won just one of their seven European games heading into the night, Arteta still named a relatively strong team.

Arsenal went behind shortly before the half-hour mark when Arnaut Danjuma capitalised on Neto’s error. However, the visitors quickly changed the narrative as Jorginho levelled from the penalty spot before 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri put the Gunners ahead before the break with a stunning effort.

A tense second half saw VAR rule out a Girona equaliser, but Arsenal managed to see out the points despite Raheem Sterling wasting a chance from the penalty spot to secure the victory in added time. Here, the Daily Star Sport looks at what Arteta learned

Team selection

With Arsenal all-but secured a top-eight place, Arteta made a number of changes to his Gunners side with the likes of Raheem Sterling, Nwaneri, Jakub Kiwior and Neto all getting the nod from the start - to varying levels of success.

Despite a busy run of fixtures coming, as Arsenal host Manchester City on Sunday before they look to overturn a 2-0 first leg deficit against Newcastle United in the EFL Cup on Wednesday, Gabriel, Martin Odegaard and Mikel Merino all played 90 minutes.

Whether or not the amount of key first-team players who started was a necessary risk, given how Arteta has moaned about fixture congestion and injuries in the past, will become evident over the next couple of testing games.

Ethan Nwaneri’s brilliance

Ethan Nwaneri’s run in the team continues amid Bukayo Saka’s injury absence, and the 17-year-old impressed again.

Playing off the right and able to drive inside on his favoured left foot, the teen has been showing his quality. Arsenal fans have been quick to rave over the sensation, with one user on X writing: “Nwaneri got that star in him. Quick with his feet, good decision making. He will cook under Arteta”.

Nwaneri’s goal saw him drift inside off the right and whip a sublime effort into the far top corner with his left foot. The future is very bright for the Enfield-born sensation, but the present is already glowing.

Goalkeeper situation

David Raya has cemented himself as Arsenal’s No.1 and there’s no danger of that changing anytime soon. On-loan backup stopper Neto became the oldest Arsenal debutant in over 110 years, at the age of 35 years and 194 days – but it wasn’t a night to remember.

Neto was at fault for Girona’s opening goal as he was caught 25 yards off his line by Arnaut Danjuma. The former Tottenham Hotspur forward timed his run perfectly to latch onto a through ball, whipping an effort from almost 40 yards that bounced into an empty net.

Neto arrived on a season-long loan from Bournemouth in the summer to play backup to Raya, and judging from his debut, Arteta and Arsenal will be crossing everything in the hope the Spaniard's issue that left him out of tonight's game isn't major.

Ollie Watkins blow

Arsenal’s lack of a lethal No.9 has been hot topic all season long, and really since the Gunners became title contenders.

The club have finally made a move to sign an out-and-out striker and goalscorer after lodging a £60million bid for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins. Unsurprisingly, the bid was rejected and appears to have annoyed the Villans with the offer arriving just hours before a crucial Champions League tie of their own against Celtic.

Although Arsenal are reportedly yet to be deterred, they may have to be. According to The Athletic, Villa striker Jhon Duran is set for a medical ahead of a proposed £65million move to Al Nassr. The deal would be a huge blow to Arsenal’s pursuit of Watkins, with Villa very unlikely to allow both strikers to leave before the deadline.