Teenager Ethan Nwaneri scored his first goals for Arsenal as they comfortably defeated League One side Bolton 4-1 to advance to the Carabao Cup fourth round.
Making his first senior start at just 17, Nwaneri opened his account by slotting into an empty net after Raheem Sterling’s pinpoint cross. He added a second goal shortly afterward, capitalizing on a mistake from Bolton’s defense to intercept a pass from Declan Rice and calmly finish past goalkeeper Luke Southwood.
Nwaneri’s goals came after he assisted in Arsenal’s 16th-minute opener. His low cross, which Scott Arfield failed to clear, set up Rice for a composed finish into the bottom corner.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised Nwaneri’s composure on the pitch, stating, “You can see he is playing with confidence and belief, well ahead of what we expected.”
Sterling scored his first goal for Arsenal in the 64th minute, tapping in after Southwood spilled a shot from Bukayo Saka. Kai Havertz then sealed the victory by converting a rebound from a saved Sterling effort.
Bolton managed to pull one back through Aaron Collins in the 53rd minute after a swift counter-attack, denying Arsenal goalkeeper Jack Porter a clean sheet on his record-setting debut. At 16 years and 72 days, Porter became the youngest player to start for the Gunners, surpassing the record set by Cesc Fabregas in 2003.
Arteta reflected on Porter’s achievement, saying, “It’s a big step and a huge occasion, but he reacted well and was composed. That’s quite an experience for him.”
Young Gunners Shine in Comfortable Win
The Carabao Cup has traditionally served as a platform for Arsenal’s youth talent, with stars like Fabregas and Jack Wilshere making their debuts in the competition. Following a demanding Premier League match against Manchester City, Arteta opted to field a younger lineup, including Nwaneri, 18-year-olds Josh Nichols and Myles Lewis-Skelly, alongside debut appearances for Maldini Kacurri and Ismael Kabia off the bench.
With experienced players like Rice and Jorginho providing support, Arsenal’s youngsters showcased their skills in a dominant display. Despite Collins’ goal, Bolton, positioned 58 places below Arsenal in the football league hierarchy, struggled to pose a threat, with defensive errors proving costly.
As Arsenal looks to maintain momentum in the competition, the contributions from their young talents could be invaluable in their pursuit of a first Premier League title in 21 years.
Credit: BBC Sport
