Ethan Nwaneri hailed as 'special player' after Messi-esque display for Arsenal in UEFA Champions League win over Girona
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Published 30/01/2025 at 00:19 GMT
Ethan Nwaneri had a night to remember on his first UEFA Champions League start in Girona, scoring a spectacular winner in a 2-1 victory for Arsenal. The 17-year-old's close control led TNT Sports expert Owen Hargreaves to say "it would put pressure" on Nwaneri to reveal whose control it reminded him of. "The ball sticks to his foot," Hargreaves said in a likely allusion to Lionel Messi.
Ethan Nwaneri of Arsenal celebrates with teammate Riccardo Calafiori after scoring his team's second goal during the UEFA Champions League 2024/25 League Phase MD8 match between Girona FC and Arsenal FC
Image credit: Getty Images
Owen Hargreaves stopped just short of comparing Arsenal sensation Ethan Nwaneri to Lionel Messi after the teenager’s match-winning impact on his full UEFA Champions League debut.
The 17-year-old’s superb strike from the edge of the box sealed a 2-1 victory in Girona that secured third place in the league phase standings.
Nwaneri, making his first start in the competition, gathered the ball on the right-hand side of the box and dribbled inside before unleashing a curling strike through a wall of defenders into the far corner.
Although the strike was reminiscent of a certain Argentine great, Hargreaves could not quite bring himself to make the comparison.
"The ball sticks to his foot, it's never away from him," said the TNT Sports expert.
"I don't want to say who it reminds me of because it would put a bit of pressure on him. But he's a special player."
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Hargreaves backs Arsenal to win UCL if they sign a striker amid Watkins links
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Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown, sitting alongside Hargreaves in the TNT Sports studio, was also impressed by the youngster’s impact, and particularly how he lived up to the hype.
"I love it when a young player produces on the night. We built him up at the start of the game, saying what a great player he was," Keown said.
"There is anger in that [goal], but control as well. He’s whipping that into the corner. He’s got the ability; he makes it look easy."
Nwaneri’s goal completed a comeback win for Arsenal in Spain after a defensive mix-up led to Arnaut Danjuma’s opener before Jorginho equalised from the penalty spot.
Arsenal completed the inaugural league phase campaign with six wins, one draw and one defeat, and will face Feyenoord, Juventus, PSV or AC Milan in the last 16 – a selection of teams both pundits were confident they can dispatch.
"Win, win, win, win. They would beat all four of them, they are better than all four of them," said Hargreaves.
Keown added: "Respectful, because there are a couple of teams in there with good pedigree in this competition historically, but I’m confident Arsenal can go through right to the latter stages."
Arteta: Nwaneri ‘so calm and confident’
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta sang the praises of his teenage sensation after showing faith by picking him from the start.
Asked about Nwaneri’s performance and him not looking nervous, Arteta said: "He never does. He’s so composed, so calm, so confident about his ability.
"You can see that at 17, he starts in the Champions League and scores a very important goal. It’s not very common."
Arsenal suffered defeat in the quarter-finals last season against Bayern Munich and haven’t made it beyond that stage since 2008/09.
The Gunners will face one of Juventus, Milan, Feyenoord or PSV Eindhoven when the play-off and last 16 draw is made on Friday, and Arteta was asked how far his side can go after finishing third in the league phase.
"It shows a lot of consistency and quality in what we delivered in the first eight games," Arteta said.
"Playing home and away isn’t very similar. Hopefully [it creates] more confidence and belief that we are a really good team, that we can compete with anybody. I think that’s a big thing in this competition, to have that trust in yourself."
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