Girona 1 Arsenal 2: Jorginho and Nwaneri complete first-half turnaround after debutant Neto’s howler
Girona 1 Arsenal 2: Jorginho and Nwaneri complete first-half turnaround after debutant Neto’s howler
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NETO was millimetres away from an Arsenal debut from hell in Girona. On his first appearance for the Gunners – 152 days after a deadline day loan move from Bournemouth – the Brazilian goalie showed just how rusty he was with a Champions League howler.
![[Arsenal players celebrating a goal.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/ethan-nwaneri-arsenal-celebrates-teammates-967641570_c89c7d.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
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. Had Neto got a touch to the ball, he would have surely been sent off by Italian ref Maurizio Mariani – another red card that would have almost certainly pushed boss Mikel Arteta over the edge.
![[Ethan Nwaneri of Arsenal scoring a goal.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/2025-arsenals-ethan-nwaneri-scores-967641550.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
Instead, the Gunners hit back via Jorginho’s penalty and Ethan Nwaneri’s stunner to book a Champions League last 16 spot in third place, surviving a late scare as Cristhian Stuani’s 77th minute equaliser was ruled out for offside by VAR before Raheem Sterling missed an injury-time spot-kick.
![[Girona vs Arsenal match stats infographic.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/the-sun-22-23-match-stats-f564d8e2-6486-4411-9aeb-f5377fbd8fbc.png?strip=all&w=960)
The path is now clear. One of either Feyenoord, Juventus, AC Milan or PSV await them in the knock-outs. 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 near-confirmed dead rubber against a knocked-out Girona with just one European win to their name looked the perfect chance.
![[Arnaut Danjuma of Girona FC celebrating a goal.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/epa11861678-girona-fcs-arnaut-danjuma-967637053.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
But after this showing, he may now think twice before chucking him in from the cold. Spanish No.1 David Raya missed out due to a “lack of fitness”, despite training in the build-up and travelling with the squad to Spain on Tuesday, but should be fine to face Manchester City on Sunday.
![[Arsenal's goalkeeper Neto walking on the field.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/neto-arsenal-reacts-arnaut-danjuma-967637289.jpg?strip=all&w=640)
