Positives & negatives from Arsenal's 2-1 win away to Girona in the Champions League

The Premier League campaign is still neither one thing or the other, but Arsenal are doing things right in this season's UEFA Champions League.

A Jorginho penalty and another tidy finish from academy prodigy Ethan Nwaneri helped the Gunners overcome a goal from Arnaut Danjuma in Girona. Victory ensured safe passage to the last 16, where a favourable draw against unseeded Feyenoord, Juventus, AC Milan or PSV awaits Mikel Arteta's team.

Let's start with credit where it's due after Arteta wisely rotated his starting XI. Yes, actually. You read that right. This is not a drill.

Starts for Jakub Kiwior, Mikel Merino and Raheem Sterling meant William Saliba, Declan Rice, Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz spent either most or all of the game on the bench.

The Gunners needed a refresh, but they also required at least a point in Spain. Even that looked beyond the visitors after Danjuma bent the ball around debutant Neto, who was called into action because of an unspecified injury to David Raya. Neto might've been awed by the occasion into thinking he was playing sweeper, judging by his starting position on the edge of the box.

A comeback was made possible by two contrasting styles. Namely, the calm class of Jorginho and the skilful bravado of Nwaneri.

They had the match turned around by the break, but the Gunners weathered not-insignificant pressure during the second half. The visitors were also spared by the linesman's flag after Cristhian Stuani thought he'd equalised.

Raheem Sterling had the chance to put an exclamation point on the scoreline, but his tame penalty, saved by Girona goalkeeper Pau Lopez, summed up the disappointing loanee's ongoing struggles.

Positives & negatives from Girona 1-2 Arsenal

Positive #1: Ethan Nwaneri getting better and better

He's got a ways to go, but it's rare for a 17-year-old to have as keen an eye for goal as Nwaneri. His latest finish, a curling effort wrapped around Lopez by a wand of a left foot, showcased the level of quality this Arsenal side too often lacks in the final third.

The precise shot also kept Nwaneri in good company among teenage sensations who were prolific early to preface special careers for The Arsenal.

A flair for getting goals with this much style offers an exciting glimpse of what the future might look like for Nwaneri and Arsenal's attack. That glimpse is motivation enough for Arteta and his staff to be working on ways to harness Nwaneri's talent and accelerate his development.

The process should be focused on deciding where Nwaneri fits best. Either on the flank or in a central area.

For now, the flank looks like his best spot while Bukayo Saka waits for his hamstring to heal. There's also the not-so small matter of Arteta not being able to trust Sterling out wide.

Negative #1: Raheem Sterling can't turn the corner

He needs a goal or two, or maybe an assist. Something, anything, to get his Arsenal career on track. Sadly, end product is still eluding Sterling.

His woes continued in Girona, where the 30-year-old tried to win a penalty, only to be booked for diving. Somehow, Sterling still felt confident enough to step up when the Gunners were awarded another spot-kick in stoppage time.

This had shades of when Arsenal handed penalty duties to Havertz last season to get him going. There's the same palpable sense Sterling needs some help.

Unfortunately, he couldn't take advantage. His flimsy effort was the work of a player bereft of belief and trying to force his way into some form.

Arsenal need Sterling to find a way soon, because he can still be an asset, but only if he rediscovers the direct route to goal and timing in the box that took his career to another level on Arteta's watch once upon a time in Manchester.

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