Updates from your Sport topics will appear in My Sport and in a collection on the Sport homepage.
Latest updates
Nwaneri 'so composed, calm and confident' - Artetapublished at 09:20 30 January
09:20 30 January
Media caption,
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised Ethan Nwaneri after the teenager scored on his first Champions League start on Wednesday.
Nwaneri's goal helped the Gunners to a 2-1 win at Spanish club Girona and secured a top-eight finish for Arteta's side.
The Arsenal boss said: "That's what we love about him - he's very aggressive. Before that [goal], he had another action where he made the right choice, he went for it.
"He never [looks nervous], he's so composed, calm and confident in his ability. At 17, scoring a really important goal in the Champions League is not very common."
Girona 1-2 Arsenal - the fans' verdictpublished at 08:34 30 January
08:34 30 January
Media caption,
We asked for your thoughts after Wednesday's Champions League game between Girona and Arsenal.
Here are some of your comments:
Ilyas: Arsenal put in a solid performance, showing resilience and character to secure a 2-1 win. It wasn't a perfect game and there were nervy moments, especially with Sterling missing a late penalty, but they held on for the win. Overall it was a good result that shows the squad's depth and determination, which will be crucial as they head into the knockout stages.
Stu: I'm happy with that. Another tough away game overcome. We are comfortably top eight, so well done lads. Nwaneri - I love you.
Paul: Job done - and what a goal from the young man!
Peter: Yes it was another win in the Champions League but, as usual, we never kill off games and make it easier for ourselves - but then that wouldn't be the Arsenal way. We now have to focus on Manchester City, who are beginning to find momentum again and we cannot drop more points. We also need a striker in place before 3 February.
David: Why are we persevering with Sterling? Yes he tries hard, but that is not enough. An end product is also required. His best days are clearly behind him and we should send him back to Chelsea as soon as possible. Why not bring Reiss Nelson back from his loan? He can't do any worse and he is one of our own.
Steve: Sterling is hopeless. The transfer window is is open and I say we should throw him out of it!
🎧 Listen to Champions League Debriefpublished at 07:44 30 January
07:44 30 January
Want to hear more analysis of a gripping night in the Champions League?
Gossip: Gunners line up second bid for Watkinspublished at 07:40 30 January
07:40 30 January
Arsenal are expected to make an improved second attempt to sign 29-year-old Aston Villa striker Ollie Watkins, who grew up as an Arsenal fan. (Mail), external
The Gunners are ready to make Bayern Munich an offer for 19-year-old Mathys Tel before the close of the January transfer window. (Football Transfers), external
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.
Arteta on gaining 'more belief', Raya's injury and Watkinspublished at 22:49 29 January
22:49 29 January
Image source, Getty Images
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta: "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."
Verdict on new Champions League formatpublished at 14:59 29 January
14:59 29 January
Former Manchester City midfielder Michael Brown and BBC Sport's John Bennett join Ben Croucher on The Football News Show to discuss why they feel the revamped Champions League format has been a success and why we should be excited by the final round of group games on Wednesday.
Girona game another chance to build good feelingpublished at 12:58 29 January
12:58 29 January
Alex Howell BBC Sport football news reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Arsenal are all but through to the last 16 of the Champions League with their position in the group-phase table, but the match at Girona presents another chance to bring back good feeling.
The Gunners have had a challenging campaign with injuries to key players, including Martin Odegaard and Bukayo Saka, plus incidents like the red card given to Myles Lewis-Skelly which has now been overturned.
With such a strong position, Arsenal are pretty much guaranteed to avoid the play-offs.
They then go into games against Manchester City - where a win at Emirates Stadium can keep the pressure up on leaders Liverpool - before the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final at Newcastle.
Manager Mikel Arteta has already mentioned the benefit of a possible winter break, which the squad will possibly do between the Newcastle match and the game at Leicester City 10 days later.
The Gunners went on an excellent run after their trip to Dubai last season and took the tittle challenge to the final day.
Arteta will be hoping, starting with the match in Girona, this can be the start of the push they need to start a run to lift a trophy.
Arsenal's group stage in picturespublished at 12:05 29 January
12:05 29 January
Henry Brownsey BBC Sport journalist
Bar an improbable sequence of results or swing in goal difference, Arsenal are into the last 16 of the Champions League.
In fact, Opta put the chances of the Gunners not finishing in the top eight at just 0.04%.
Here's how they did it.
Image source, Getty Images
Arsenal's group stage got under way with a 0-0 draw at Atalanta. After a game of little drama, David Raya was the Arsenal hero with a stunning double save from Mateo Retegui - stopping the Italian's penalty and his rebound to ensure Arsenal left with a point.
Image source, Getty Images
Arsenal's first win of the group stage came against PSG at the Emirates - first-half goals from Kai Havertz and a Bukayo Saka free-kick helped the Gunners to a 2-0 victory.
They followed this with another home win, beating Ukranian side Shakhtar Donetsk 1-0 courtesy of an own goal by goalkeeper Dmytro Riznyk.
Image source, Getty Images
Two weeks later, a controversial penalty was given to Inter Milan against the Gunners at the San Siro, which Hakan Calhanoglu scored.
This was enough to help Inter to a 1-0 win and condemn Arsenal to their first Champions League loss of the group stage.
Image source, Getty Images
Arsenal reacted to their loss in Italy by hitting Sporting for five at the Estadio Jose Alvalade.
Sporting had been unbeaten in their four group stage games up to this point and thrashed Manchester City 4-1 three weeks prior to facing the Gunners.
But Arteta's side comfortably dispatched the Portuguese side with five different players getting on the scoresheet in a 5-1 win.
Image source, Getty Images
In their most recent two fixtures, consecutive 3-0 home victories against Monaco and Dinamo Zagreb have effectively guaranteed Arsenal's place in the last 16.
Havertz, who scored the winner in the 2020-21 final, took his tally for this season's campaign to four as he notched in both games.
Arsenal approach will not be 'cautious'published at 09:15 29 January
09:15 29 January
Image source, Getty Images
Former Premier League midfielder Michael Brown has backed Mikel Arteta's "mentality" to achieve a positive result at Girona on Wednesday night.
Before the final game of the group phase, Arsenal have essentially secured a position in the Champions League top eight and will avoid heading into the play-off round of the new-look competition.
It gives the Arsenal boss an opportunity to rest some players; however, Arteta insisted in his pre-match news conference he would still field a "strong team".
"I quite fancy them in this year's Champions League," Brown told BBC Radio 5 Live's Football Daily podcast. "I feel like Arteta has done all of his prep - he has said he has watched them three or four times.
"I don't think their approach will be cautious. They want to develop and go on and win. That is the mentality he has - to win every single game."
He said the decision will not affect his thinking for choosing the team against Girona as there was already "a lot of uncertainty" for upcoming games.
On the abuse referee Michael Oliver has been subjected to: "Regardless of whether it's about a player, a coach or a referee, it doesn't matter. We really have to work harder to eradicate this part of the game that brings nothing but bad stuff, leaves a bad taste and makes people's lives more difficult. Let's get it out. Let's kick it out."
He added: "It should not be permitted. We don't want it, we don't need it and certainly damages our sport."
On whether he will make changes for the game: "We're here to win the game and in order to do that we're going to have to be better than them. So tomorrow will be a very strong team in order to achieve what we want to do because mathematically the qualifying at the moment is uncertain."
On whether Arsenal are looking at bringing in players this window for positions other than a striker: "There are situations open. I always say the same - if we can improve the squad with players who can impact us now and in the future, we will try to do that if it is the best thing for the club. I stand by that."
He said Mikel Merino has been "quite unfortunate" with injuries but his "character is unbelievable", adding: "He's so determined and now he has some rhythm, some momentum and has had some very good moments in the last few weeks with us."
On the possibility of resting Kai Havertz: "We have a lot of players with a lot of load. he's not an exception, but his work-rate and his desire [are great]. The way he trained today, it's as if he wants to play tomorrow. Some players, when they are in the rhythm, want to continue to do that because they feel better."
