Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta heaped praise on midfielder Ethan Nwaneri after the 17-year-old produced another fine performance to help his side secure a spot in the Champions League round of 16 with a victory at Girona.

Arsenal goalscorer Ethan Nwaneri said his match-winning strike against Girona that marked his full Champions League debut was “one of the highlights” of his career.

Arsenal take on Girona in the Champions League tonight. It is the Gunners’ final game of the new-look league phase, with their automatic progress through to the last 16 without the need for a two-legged knockout play-off tie all but secured ahead of this evening’s visit to Catalonia.

Arsenal secured a spot in the Champions League round of 16 as they rallied from a goal down to win 2-1 at Girona on Wednesday thanks to goals from Jorginho and Ethan Nwaneri.

Arsenal, with a rotated squad, defeated Girona on the final day of the league phase to secure a round of 16 spot.

The Gunners had to fight back from behind in Catalonia after some bizarre goalkeeping from debutant Neto that allowed Arnaut Danjuma to score the opener, but Jorginho’s penalty and a brilliant Ethan Nwaneri strike secured a deserved victory for Mikel Arteta’s side - their sixth out of eight in Europe so far this season.

Girona, Arsenal's opponent, have already been eliminated and come in sat 31st on just three points. Girona only managed to win a single game in the league phase out of seven. Their European journey comes to an end after the game, but they can still play spoiler to Arsenal's ambitions of finishing as high as possible.