Ethan Nwaneri struck a sublime winner as Arsenal rallied from a goal down to beat Girona 2-1 and secure a spot in the Champions League last 16 on Wednesday.

Arsenal earned their sixth win from eight games to finish third in the league phase and avoid a two-legged play-off in the knockout stage.

Mikel Arteta's men were largely in control away from home, but Girona opened the scoring in the 28th minute when Arnaut Danjuma capitalised on debutant goalkeeper Neto's poor positioning and swept into the net.

However, Jorginho equalised with a clinical spot kick 10 minutes later following an Arnau Martinez foul on Thomas Partey, before Nwaneri put the visitors ahead with a superb curling effort from the edge of the box.

Locked in for the knockout stage pic.twitter.com/BoO0xdjuSx
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) January 29, 2025

Girona scarcely threatened an equaliser in the second half but thought they had it through Cristhian Stuani, only for a VAR review to reveal Portu was offside before crossing for his fellow substitute.

Arsenal, who had hit the crossbar through Leandro Trossard late in the first half, themselves came close to a further goal, yet Raheem Sterling saw his stoppage-time penalty saved by Pau Lopez after Alejandro Frances' handball.

Data debrief: Arsenal avoid last-day drama

Although only an improbable set of results would have seen Arsenal fall out of the top eight, there may have been a few nerves in the visiting ranks when they fell behind against the run of play.

Yet the Gunners were back in control by the break. This was just the second time they had conceded first in a Champions League away game but gone on to lead at half-time, also doing so in another 2-1 win at Montpellier in 2012.

Nwaneri was just five when Arsene Wenger's side completed that turnaround, and in scoring a superb winner on Wednesday, he became the second-youngest English goalscorer in Champions League history. Jude Bellingham was just 25 days younger when he netted his first goal in the competition.