Jorginho and Ethan Nwaneri scored twice in four minutes as Arsenal came from behind to beat Girona 2-1, securing a fourth consecutive Champions League win and confirming third place in the group phase.
Here’s what the managers, players, pundits and stattos made of the action…
Mikel Arteta on the mood in the camp after another win…
Really good at the moment. Things are going well. We won the last four games in the Champions League but winning in this competition is very demanding but overall the team has been very consistent, regardless of all the issues they have had to face. Hopefully more belief in that dressing room that we are a good team and can face anyone and still perform and win games.”
Source: BBC Sport
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Girona head coach Michel on a tough game…
I think we competed very well and I am happy for the players because they had personality on the pitch. But we lack continuity and consistency. In this sense, the team has to improve. We now need to play 17 top games to be in a position to fight for Europe again. Now we will only have to think about the League and think about improving and being consistent.
Source: AS
𝐆𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐚 𝟏-𝟐 𝐀𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐧𝐚𝐥
Mikel Arteta’s side come from behind to win, finishing third in the league phase of the Champions League.
Ethan Nwaneri (17y 314d) became the second youngest Englishman to score a Champions League goal after Jude Bellingham (17y 289d).
#UCL
— Opta Analyst (@optaanalyst.optajoe.com) January 29, 2025 at 10:23 PM
Jorginho on having to adapt to Girona’s tactics…
I think we started struggling a little bit. They put us in a difficult situation with the way they were playing and rotating [and] we were struggling to deal with it. We tried to change the way we were pressing and to bring up the level of our individual habits.
Source: Uefa.com
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Girona winger Arnaut Danjuma on his side’s performance…
We competed pretty well. We had our chances but in the end, it wasn’t meant to be. Arsenal are a phenomenal club, a phenomenal team to play against for the club and the players. It’s been a learning curve for us, it’s the first time for us to play the Champions League I think we’ve competed pretty well.
Source: Uefa.com
Here are the 24 teams who will continue their UEFA Champions League journey in 2024-25.
— Opta Analyst (@optaanalyst.optajoe.com) January 29, 2025 at 10:20 PM
Nwaneri on a perfect first Champions League start…
It’s the Champions League, it’s what I’ve loved and watched since I was young. So to come here and win Man of the Match on my starting debut, it’s a special feeling. I’m happy. Listening to the music was surreal, that’s the moment I’ve lived for my whole life. The music was special to me, so that was great. It’s crazy, life moves fast. But I’m happy to be here. This is where I’ve always wanted to be, so I’m grateful that I’m here.
Source: Arsenal.com
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Uefa’s technical panel on awarding the player of the match award to Nwaneri…
He scored an amazing goal and was always dangerous attacking and creating problems for the Girona defence.
Source: Uefa.com
17 – Ethan Nwaneri (17y 314d) tonight became the second youngest Englishman to score a UEFA Champions League goal, after Jude Bellingham (17y 289d v Manchester City in April 2021). Special.
— OptaJoe (@optajoe.com) January 29, 2025 at 10:21 PM
Mikel Merino on Nwaneri…
He is ruthless. He has no fear on the pitch. He has a really high ceiling and we’re going to help him reach it.
Source: Uefa.com
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Jorginho on Nwaneri…
It is a pleasure to work with a young boy like him, [who is] humble, who works very hard, listens to what the others say to him and then wants to improve a lot. I spoke with him just now and congratulated him because he deserves it.
Source: Uefa.com
Norberto Neto (35y & 194d) becomes #Arsenal’s oldest debutant since Ned Liddell in April 1915 (36y & 310d).
#AFC have used 4 keepers in a single season (Raya, Neto, Setford & Porter) for the first time since 2020-21 (Leno, Martínez, Rúnarsson & Ryan).
— Harvey Downes (@harveydownes92.bsky.social) January 29, 2025 at 7:08 PM
Arteta on David Raya’s fitness…
He certainly could not play, he is injured and that is it.
Source: BBC Sport
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Michel on Christian Stuani’s goal being ruled out for offside…
For us it is a goal, that is the truth. He was able to celebrate it and enjoy the hug from his teammates and the fans. The image of celebrating a goal in the Champions League will be with him forever.
Source: AS
Arsenal had won just two of 15 away games in Spain under Arsene Wenger, but have won three of the four subsequent away games versus Spanish opposition since the Frenchman’s departure.
#GIRARS
— Orbinho (@orbinho.bsky.social) January 29, 2025 at 10:02 PM
Martin Keown on the win…
It got a bit disjointed in the second half, lots of substitutions but they did enough. They have a catalogue of games, the fixture list is really busy so to keep on winning is the right way to go., it’s just unfortunate Sterling doesn’t get his penalty but they were always comfortable in the game, I felt. Nwaneri showed again what a real talent he is, he’s really classy. A good evening all in all for Arsenal
Source: TNT Sports
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Owen Hargreaves on Arsenal’s Champions League run…
They’ve been really good in this competition, they’ve had some really tough games, this was probably one of the easier ones on paper but they’ve faced some great teams, you think about Inter, PSG and Atalanta and they’ve done such a good job. This Arsenal team look more ready than they did last season when they went out against Bayern, who were struggling a bit at the time. I think Mikel will be proud of the players so far in this competition. They will be tough to face in the knockout stages because defensively they are brilliant. Mikel has this team in a good position to strike.
Source: TNT Sports
“The image of celebrating a goal in the Champions League will be with him forever.” as will the image of the VAR ruling it out unfortunately.
🤣
“It’s the Champions League, it’s what I’ve loved and watched since I was young.” Ethan Nwaneri, aged 17.
Unreal talent. Six goals already this season. Hope he terrorizes the 115ers on Sunday.
He got it wrong there; should have said “since I was a child”;
Raya injured? Wtf? When?
Neto always dreamed of overtaking Ned Liddell’s record. Well done to him.
But why are they both named after budget supermarkets
Because they did not cost much ?
Fingers crossed on Raya’s fitness, because my word was Neto bad today.
Job done, much to the UK media’s annoyance. Let the fawn over the scousers and Man U (Oh wait…)
Merino’s words sum up what I find most impressive about Nwaneri and MLS. They really are fearless.
Also, Dubai trip is confirmed I guess
Doing well and picking up some form before the break to Dubai 🙂
I know we need a striker but I would rather wait until the summer and get Sesko – Watkins is a good player but he is 29 years old – not one for the future is he?
Think Watkins is not going to materialise with Duran to Al Nassr.
Reckon Mikel’s dream still is Isak, don’t know how Newcastle are doing on a FFP/PSR point of view but would be happy with Sesko as well. Leipzig signed Xavi Simmons for 80M today so I guess they won’t say no to some money in the summer.
Neto was fine…Raya had plenty of wobbles last season. It goes with the territory.
He’s keeping the seat warm for Tommy Setford. I hope…
I’ve only seen the highlights, but according to Charles Watts, Neto started very badly but improved as the game went on. Hardly surprising when you realise he’s not played a competitive game for a long time.