Real Madrid loanee Dani Ceballos endeared himself to Arsenal fans with a clutch goal.
Dani Ceballos‘ future is up in the air, as the Arsenal center midfielder is out on loan from Real Madrid and could be looking for a new loan assignment in 2020-2021. La Liga clubs like Valencia and Real Betis have been linked, since it looks unlikely for Ceballos to immediately return to Zinedine Zidane’s first team.
But Ceballos is out to prove he’s first-team quality. His FA Cup goal in the 91st minute of injury time won the game for Arsenal, and it’s moments like this that can help him convince Zidane that he belongs at the Santiago Bernabeu.
Sheffield United had equalized in the 87th minute after Nicolas Pepe’s first-half penalty, so Arsenal were in need of a hero in the quarterfinals of the competition. And they found their man in Ceballos. Check out the goal below.
Dani Ceballos sends Arsenal into the FA Cup semifinals!
— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) June 28, 2020
Watch the FA Cup on ESPN+ ➡️ https://t.co/L6uB5ez5cj pic.twitter.com/opaf7DE99T
Arsenal were desperate to make something happen in the game’s closing minutes, and it was Ceballos who delivered the goods. He picked up the loose ball near the top of the box, took a few dribbles to his right, and used his favored foot to strike a low shot past Manchester United loanee Dean Henderson.
It was a beautiful, calm, and clutch finish from the classy and technically prolific midfielder, who has dazzled the Premier League with his flicks and tricks but has been criticized for lacking end product. He clearly showed his end product with this winning goal in the cup quarterfinals.
Just 23 years old, Ceballos’ goal against Sheffield United in the FA Cup is his second in all competitions for Arsenal. He’s also assisted twice in the Premier League. Per WhoScored.com, the former Real Betis star is averaging 1.1 key passes per game, 1.1 dribbles per game, and 1.6 fouls drawn per game as a solid but underused talent for the Gunners.
Ceballos may not have a long-term future with Arsenal, but his own future is bright, as this goal shows. Real Madrid fans are certainly keeping the closest eye on the young midfielder, because the star upside is absolutely there.