Izzy Christiansen
Former England midfielder on the Football Daily podcast

[The atmosphere at the Etihad] felt very contained, considering 18 matches going on all around Europe. It just felt like it was very contained, very task focussed here tonight and of course in the first-half, Brugge almost spoilt the party and that then stimulated a response from Manchester City.

The atmosphere was a little tense at the start of the second-half, it was one man in particular who changed the game, in my opinion, for Manchester City, which was Savinho who came on at half-time, that then flipped the atmosphere and then everything came up to boil a little bit and Manchester City got control. It was certainly not an easy task for Manchester City.

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John Murray
BBC Radio 5 Live chief football correspondent on the Football Daily podcast

Pep Guardiola told us that he did not have any doubts that his team would do that they had to do to go through. I had to confess during the match, it did not look like it. Particularly, when Manchester City had huffed and puffed in the first-half and then just before the break on the counter-attack, [Ferran] Jutgla set up Raphael Onyedika to shoot the Belgian champions to a shock lead. It left Manchester City with so much to do in the second-half, but they achieved it.

Phil McNulty
BBC Sport chief football writer

In the wider context, this was Manchester City's season on the line - European ambitions threatened while languishing 12 points adrift of Premier League leaders Liverpool, their hold on that crown loosened.

It is to City's credit that they responded, helped by Pep Guardiola's effective change of Savinho for Ilkay Gundogan at half-time, meaning the manager avoided the fate of failing to reach the knockout stage for the first time in his silver-lined career.

If City had gone out, it would have ended a run of 11 successive seasons in which they have reached the knockout stage - anything else would have been a severe body blow to the pride and status of a club who cherish their place at Europe's top table.

City survived what would have been their biggest embarrassment under Guardiola, but on current form a play-off against either Real Madrid or Bayern Munich to reach the last 16 cannot be approached with confidence.

It was only when the unfortunate Joel Ordonez turned Josko Gvardiol's cross into his own net to give City the lead that Brugge's threat was finally extinguished, their supporters also celebrating at the final whistle as they sneaked into the play-offs in 24th place.

Interesting suggestion from Tom there...

That's a question in itself though. How would you improve this new Champions League format?

Someone in the office has suggested a "Royal Rumble." A hybrid league/rolling knockout format - whereby the numbers in the league are gradually reduced with the teams lower down being knocked out so there is jeopardy every week.

Let's hear some suggestions. Weird and wonderful all accepted but may not be agreed with!

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta speaking after the victory against Girona: "Things are going well. We won the last four games in the Champions League and winning in this competition is very demanding.

"But overall the team has been very consistent, regardless of all the issues they have had to face.

"Hopefully there will be more belief in that dressing room that we are a good team and that we can face anyone and still perform and win games."

On David Raya's injury: "He certainly could not play, he is injured and that is it."

On the rejected bid for Ollie Watkins and transfer business: "I can't talk about any of that. My confidence is that we have an amazing club with people always working to try and improve. Let's see what happens."

John Southall
BBC Radio 5 Live commentator on the Football Daily podcast

[Arsenal] beat Girona two goals to one, a good night for Arsenal in Catalonia and Mikel Arteta will be delighted with a third place finish in this league phase. They trailed 1-0 after Danjuma's opening goal, horrible moment for Neto, the goalkeeper on his debut, he will not want to watch that back. Jorginho equalised with a penalty and 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, scored a beauty, he scored his first Champions League goal, a special night for him and he is a special talent. Arsenal were comfortable really in the second-half. They can now pack-up their Champions League aspirations until March.

Image source, Getty Images

At 17 years and 314 days, Arsenal's Ethan Nwaneri became the second youngest Englishman to score a Champions League goal after Jude Bellingham for Borussia Dortmund in April 2021.

Bellingham was 17 years and 289-days-old.

Arsenal's need for a striker has been one of the main talking points of their season and the news of the club's approach for Ollie Watkins threatened to overshadow the game.

Their need for a goalscorer was almost highlighted further after Arnaut Danjuma gave Girona the lead but the Gunners showed the quality to make this game another straightforward outing in this season's revamped league phase.

Ethan Nwaneri then ensured that all of that was a footnote after another excellent showing for the Gunners.

The club's youngest player to feature for the first team again showed maturity above his years to slot in on the right side of the Arsenal attack.

His goal, where he cut in from the right on his left foot and curled into the far corner, is already starting to become a trademark of his in a career that only spans 23 games.

Mikel Arteta allows Nwaneri to expressive himself in this team and like all top level wingers Nwaneri is equally adept at cutting inside to go at goal or go wide to cross for teammates.

The 17-year-old is also trusted to take set-pieces for Arsenal and that is quite the compliment given the importance Arsenal put on those opportunities.

Image source, Getty Images

Arsenal scored two goals in four first-half minutes as they came from behind to beat Girona to qualify for the knockout stage of the Champions League.

Girona looked like they were about to pull off a shock result when they took the lead in the 28th minute.

Neto, making his Arsenal debut in goal in place of the injured David Raya, raced out of his box and Arnaut Danjuma curled the ball past him into the empty net.

Arsenal drew level with a penalty 10 minutes later through Jorginho after Thomas Partey was brought down in the area by Arnau Martinez.

The Gunners were then ahead just before half time when 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri cut in from the right hand side and curled an effort into the bottom corner.

Girona thought they had scored a second and levelled the match when Cristhian Stuani tapped in from close range in the second half but the goal was ruled out for offside.

Arsenal had a chance to add a third in stoppage time but Raheem Sterling had a penalty saved by Pau Lopez.

Struggling to keep track of who is where after the league phase of the Champions League?

Don't worry, we've got you covered.

Through to the last 16:

• Liverpool
• Barcelona
• Arsenal
• Inter Milan
• Atletico Madrid
• Bayer Leverkusen
• Lille
• Aston Villa

Through to the play-off round:

• Atalanta
• Borussia Dortmund
• Real Madrid
• Bayern Munich
• AC Milan
• PSV Eindhoven
• Paris Saint-Germain
• Benfica
• Monaco
• Brest
• Feyenoord
• Juventus
• Celtic
• Manchester City
• Sporting CP
• Club Brugge

Eliminated:

• Dinamo Zagreb
• Stuttgart
• Shakhtar Donetsk
• Bologna
• Crvena Zvezda
• Sturm Graz
• Sparta Prague
• RB Leipzig
• Girona
• RB Salzburg
• Slovan Bratislava
• Young Boys

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Liverpool midfielder James McConnell, speaking to TNT Sports: "Disappointed we didn't win the game but we topped the group thanks to the performance in the rest of the season.

"I'm proud to make my Champions League debut. I'm grateful for the opportunity. I loved playing in this atmosphere.

"The team was a bit makeshift at times with lads slotting in all over the place but we feel we should have won the game."

Image source, Getty Images

Despite defeat, Liverpool finish top of the group phase and can now concentrate on domestic matters - where they are top of the Premier League, in the semi-finals of the EFL Cup and the FA Cup fourth round - before their next European game in March.

With Liverpool and Barcelona finishing first and second respectively, the two clubs cannot meet until the final.

Mohamed Salah, captain Virgil van Dijk and Trent Alexander-Arnold were among those given the night off as Jayden Danns became the youngest player ever to make his first start for Liverpool in a European Cup/Champions League game at the age of 19 years and 13 days.

Danns was one of four players aged 21 or younger to start while Trey Nyoni, 17, and Amara Nallo, 18, came on as substitutes.

Nallo will not forget his senior debut in a hurry.

He lasted three minutes and 46 seconds, with the young defender managing just two passes before he was sent off.

John Murray
BBC Radio 5 Live chief football correspondent on the Football Daily podcast

Massive, massive deal, you know you think about how they progressed under Unai Emery in the Champions League this season and then trying to compete on the domestic front and the European front so to get a top eight place, that is a credit to Unai Emery and the team because they have looked flat in the last couple of weeks, It was very unlike Unai Emery to publicly call out his players as he did do because of the frustration with the way they performed against Monaco, so the pressure was on them against Celtic.

There was a bit of a wobble before half-time, they looked like they were going to run away early on. They got there in the end. In fairness, Celtic never really looked threatening enough in the second-half, Villa had chances, they didn't take them at 3-2 and you thought maybe Celtic will create an opportunity. Now they can put their feet up while other teams are playing in the play-off rounds and well deserved.

Conor McNamara
BBC Radio 5 Live commentator on the Football Daily podcast

Their first Champions League defeat under Arne Slot, PSV's win does see them qualify for the play-offs, it's great celebrations at the end but let's face it, Slot was always relaxed about this game. We knew he was from the moment the teamsheets came out. Liverpool making nine changes from the win over Ipswich. He stared with four players in the team aged 21 or under.

It was a night Liverpool always knew they were going through anyway and it really wouldn't have mattered had they finished first or second in terms of the calibre of opponent they'll face now in the knock-out stages. But there is always a prestige to winning any group, to topping any table and Liverpool finish where, since the arrival of Arne Slot, they feel is their natural habitat. they finish on top and ahead of all the rest.

Thomas:Re Owen @ 08:24 - Well at least one of Man City, Bayern Munich, and Real Madrid won't make the last 16 so I wouldn't say zero big clubs going out. Doubt that would be the case with the old format.

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A much-changed Liverpool finished top of the Champions League group phase despite losing their 100% winning record after defeat to PSV Eindhoven in a five-goal thriller.

Liverpool, who had won their opening seven matches, led twice in the Netherlands before conceding twice at the end of the first half in their eighth and final game.

But Barcelona's failure to beat Atalanta meant Arne Slot's team finished top on 21 points, two ahead of their nearest rivals.

Liverpool's last-16 opponents will be the winners of a play-off involving Paris St-Germain, Benfica, Monaco and Brest.