That’s what we LOVE about him! Arteta on Ethan Nwaneri’s goal and performance in win over Girona | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta says Ethan Nwaneri’s goal in their Champions League win over Girona shows why he is rated so highly by him and others at the club.

Nwaneri, who is enjoying a breakout season at Arsenal, scored the winner for the Gunners before half-time, cutting in from the right and curling into the corner with a superb finish.

Arsenal had gone a goal down to Arnaut Danjuma’s strike before Jorginho equalised from the spot and 17-year-old Nwaneri’s winner.

Victory means Arsenal finish third in the league stage of the Champions League, progressing directly through to the round of 16.

And Arteta hailed Nwaneri after the victory.

He said: “That’s what we love about him, you know, that he’s willing to take the initiative to make things happen.

“He’s very aggressive when he’s on the ball and so confident because he doesn’t do that. Before that he had another action, a very similar one. He made the right choice, he went for it.

“He’s a player that has the capacity to finish from every angle, basically, and it was a very important goal.

“It’s very natural for him. You can see the way he takes the touches, how he flows, how he picks people. And then the technique he’s got when he’s in motion, which is very good because he’s so precise in his finishing.

“So, yeah, we’re in a lot of times in that situation and I think the outcome will be good.”

Despite Arsenal’s passage through to the knockout stages appearing straightforward, Arteta insists he was never comfortable, however.

“I’ve never felt anything like this because it’s so tough,” he said. “I think we won the last four games in the Champions League, but what it has to do to win football matches in this competition is very demanding.

“We faced a group that was very tricky and difficult, but overall, I think, as you said, the team has been very consistent regardless of all the issues that we had to face and, hopefully, more belief in that dressing room that we are a good team and we can face anybody and still perform and winning games.”