Girona 1 Arsenal 2: Jorginho and Nwaneri complete first-half turnaround after debutant Neto’s howler
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
It gave Neto a rare outing – his first match since starting for the Cherries in a cup defeat to West Ham on August 28.
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Despite their current injury issues – missing the likes of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Jesus and Ben White – Arteta also used this one to rotate elsewhere.
William Saliba, Gabriel Martinelli, Jurrien Timber, Kai Havertz, Declan Rice and Myles Lewis-Skelly – fresh from having his three-game ban wiped for his controversial red in the 1-0 win over Wolves on Saturday – dropped to the bench.
Skipper Martin Odegaard and midfielder Mikel Merino returned after missing the Molineux win, while the pre-match talk was all about their shock bid for Aston Villa’s Ollie Watkins.
But from kick-off, all eyes were on Neto in between the sticks. His first touch set the tone.
Around 20 yards outside of his box, a simple Jorginho pass-back was fumbled before slipping over, nearly allowing Yaser Asprilla to nick it with an open goal gaping.
The visitors responded. The hugely impressive Nwaneri – still only 17 – crossed for Leandro Trossard by the Belgian scuffed it wide.
Arsenal were inches away from taking the lead. Riccardo Calafiori – who netted the winner against Wolves – was narrowly offside from a Sterling pass inside the box before scoring.
But Girona were growing in confidence, thanks mainly to Danjuma terrorising Thomas Partey – a midfielder at right-back. A cheeky nutmeg on Partey saw Danjuma shimmy inside and threaten.
Again, Danjuma beat Partey – this time for pace in behind – only to see a wayward Neto miles out of his box and unaware of his surroundings, making for a simple finish from distance.
It had echoes of Robert Sanchez’s recent antics for Chelsea against Manchester City’s Erling Haaland.
Arsenal were all over the shop as Jakub Kiwior lost possession and gave up another chance – but they were handed a lifeline thanks to Arnau Martinez clattering into Partey in the box.
Jorginho hopped, skipped and jumped his penalty technique for a 38th minute equaliser.
And four minutes later, Arsenal’s teenage sensation put them in front, dribbling across the box and picking his spot with a curling beauty into the far corner.
A first Champions League goal on his first competition start, making it six goals in total this term.
Following Stuani’s disallowed strike, Arteta threw on the big guns in Rice and Havertz to see out a no-thrills away-day victory in the heart of Catalonia, but could not finish in style as Sterling’s penalty after Alejandro Frances’ handball was saved by Pau Lopez.
Even so, Champions League dreaming can officially begin.