Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger thought Aaron Ramsey was overly
optimistic when half-volleying with his weaker foot from 30 yards, but
what does he know?
The Welshman, 23, thundered the effort into the
Galatasaray net from practically another postcode, drawing stunned looks
from even his own team-mates.
It was his second of the match and a third in two outings, after he contributed a left-foot volley in defeat at Stoke City on Saturday.
But this one was from an altogether different planet and emphatically banished the 17-game goal drought which had followed the midfielder prior to his strike at the Britannia.
Ramsey posted on Twitter to acknowledge the win and the stunned look on the faces of his team-mates including Yaya Sanogo.
Ramsey's left footed half-volley barely dipped, such was its power and reached a speed of 53mph, taking just 1.1 seconds to hit the net from a shade under 30 yards.
Lukas Podolski scored a
powerful opener but was overshadowed by Ramsey and appeared to shine the
Welshman's boot when celebrating
"At first I thought it wasn't but watching it back, it is further out than I thought so it's my best goal," Ramsey reflected on the goal which had put Arsenal 3-0 up.
Actress Catherine Zeta-Jones
was born some 40 miles from Caerphilly where Ramsey grew up, but the
pair are top Welsh produce according to Jan Aage Fjortoft
"Ramsey! What a goal, the best thing from Wales since, since....Catherine Zeta-Jones," tweeted the Norwegian.
Ramsey's earlier goal did actually form part of a special night for Wales as because of Gareth Bale's strike for Real Madrid against Ludogorets Razgrad, the country could boast two goalscorers on a Champions League night for the first time.
Bale, accustomed to wonder strikes, could only offer a paltry header in comparison.
The BBC live text commentator
on the night gasped when Ramsey's shot hit the net and quickly tried to
find the words to describe the incredible effort.
Former Gunner Paul Merson joined in the praise, telling Sky Sports: "I've never seen anything like it in all my years. It was phenomenal", while former Spurs manager David Pleat said on BBC Radio 5 Live: "It was a rocket of a shot and the goalkeeper just puts his hand up there to acknowledge the quality of the shot."
But Arsene thought don't shoot. What does he know?
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Listen: Ramsey's 'goal of the season'