Arsenal starlet Ethan Nwaneri just stunned fans on his full Champions League debut.
The Gunners headed to Girona with the assurance that qualification to the Champions League round of 16 was in their hands.
With that in mind, Mikel Arteta made eight changes to the starting lineup that beat Wolves, seeing David Raya miss out due to injury.
It was a special occasion for Ethan Nwaneri, who at just 17, made his full Champions League debut for Arsenal.
Arsenal fans react to Ethan Nwaneri goal vs Girona
The Champions League fixture against Girona got off to a terrible start, as Neto made a horrendous error on his Arsenal debut.
Fortunately for the summer signing, his blushes were spared by what unfolded at the other end of the pitch, seeing Jorginho and Nwaneri score to give Arsenal a half-time lead.
Jorginho netted from the spot but Nwaneri scored an audacious curling goal with little space on the outside of the box, sending Arsenal fans into pandemonium.
It wasn’t just in Girona that Arsenal supporters erupted, but on social media too.
“Ethan Nwaneri scoring goals like those in the Champions League is crazy. What a special talent we have in our hands,” an Arsenal fan said on X.
Praise for the 17-year-old flooded in, as the midfielder was dubbed a ‘certified baller’.
- “Nwaneri is a certified baller.”
- “Nwaneri is too good this is scary.”
- “Ethan Nwaneri is a sensation.”
The Englishman is becoming a talent impossible for Arteta to ignore, with some supporters calling for the youngster to snatch Martin Odegaard’s role.
“I’ve seen enough, we need Nwaneri and Saka to play together, move Odegaard to the left,” a fan said, while another mentioned Odegaard for other reasons.
“Nwaneri has three times more goals than Odegaard this season (and no pens). Wow…”
The Arsenal academy product was then compared to Bukayo Saka and Cesc Fabregas, telling of how highly regarded he is in the fanbase.
“Ethan Nwaneri is our most complete teenager since Cesc Fabregas. Even Saka wasn’t this good at 17,” one supporter exclaimed.
“That is very, very Bukayo Saka. Fantastic goal from a fantastic player. His first UCL goal. Special talent.”
What a way to mark your full Champions League debut, as Nwaneri is proving that age means nothing when talent and mentality are there.
Nwaneri makes Arsenal history in the Champions League
Nwaneri’s goal was not only a thing of beauty to behold on the teenager’s full debut but, was a goal for the record books.
By scoring against Girona, the teenager became the second-youngest Arsenal goalscorer in Champions League history.
| Player | Age | Year |
| Cesc Fabregas | 17 yrs 217 days | 2004 |
| Ethan Nwaneri | 17 yrs 247 days | 2025 |
| Aaron Ramsey | 17 yrs 300 days | 2008 |
At 17 years and 247 days old, Nwaneri placed behind Cesc Fabregas and leapfrogged Aaron Ramsey in the pecking order.
Arteta showed full trust in Nwaneri by starting the forward in the Champions League, trust that was almost instantly repaid by the Hale End superstar.
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