Arsenal: Ethan Nwaneri spares Neto's blushes as Mikel Arteta faces potential new problem
Arsenal: Ethan Nwaneri spares Neto's blushes as Mikel Arteta faces potential new problem
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All the talk around Arsenal this month has been about signing a new striker. During this win in Girona, though, it was at the other end of the pitch where the headlines were produced. Mikel Arteta’s side got the win they came for, securing a spot in the last 16 of the Champions League, however that was not without plenty of alarm bells ringing at the back.
Goalkeeper Neto, handed his Arsenal debut in the absence of the injured David Raya, was most culpable and he looked shaky from the outset. Raya, who travelled with the squad to Spain on Tuesday but was then left out entirely, was described as being “not fit” by Arteta in his pre-match interviews. The Arsenal manager will desperately hoping that isn’t the case come Sunday, when the Gunners host Manchester City.
Neto, who joined Arsenal on loan from Bournemouth on summer deadline day, looked nervous from the off and clearly some rust has built up since he signed. He was caught in possession outside his box inside the opening two minutes, but his defenders were able to recover. The Brazilian was not so fortunate before the half-hour mark, which is when Girona took the lead.
A simple ball put Arnaut Danjuma through and questions will be asked of Thomas Partey, who allowed the winger to run off him. Neto, however, was mainly at fault. The goalkeeper was stranded in no man’s land way outside his area and he was lucky not to be sent off, diving for the ball as Danjuma’s curled effort went past him.
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