Owen Hargreaves hails ‘special’ Arsenal star after Champions League win against Girona
Owen Hargreaves hails ‘special’ Arsenal star after Champions League win against Girona
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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.
![[FBL-EUR-C1-GIRONA-ARSENAL]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/GettyImages-2196006701.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
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.
![[Girona FC v Arsenal FC - UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD8]](https://metro.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/GettyImages-2196640222.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&w=646)
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. 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.
