Teenager Ethan Nwaneri netted his first goals for Arsenal as they eased past League One side Bolton to secure a spot in the Carabao Cup fourth round.
The 17-year-old, making his first senior start, scored his first by tapping into an empty net following a Raheem Sterling cross. He then capitalized on a Bolton error, intercepting a pass from Declan Rice and calmly slotting the ball under goalkeeper Luke Southwood.
Nwaneri had already made his presence felt in the 16th minute, delivering a sharp cross that Scott Arfield failed to clear, allowing Rice to finish confidently into the bottom corner for Arsenal’s opener.
“You can tell he is playing with a confidence and belief and an understanding of what he needs to do on the pitch,” said Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta, whose side will face Championship Preston at Deepdale in the next round.
“In his journey with the first team he is always ahead of what everybody expected and I expected too. He deserves that and he is part of us so he will have the minutes.”
Sterling tapped home the fourth from a couple of yards in the 64th minute after Southwood spilled Bukayo Saka’s effort. It was the forward’s first goal in Arsenal colours, on his first start, since joining from London rivals Chelsea on transfer deadline day.
Kai Havertz wrapped up a convincing win at Emirates Stadium after guiding home a rebound when Sterling’s shot was saved.
Aaron Collins had pulled one back for Bolton in the 53rd minute after a brilliant counter-attack. It was ultimately a consolation, but one that denied teenage Arsenal goalkeeper Jack Porter a clean sheet on his record-setting senior debut.
At 16 years and 72 days old, he became the youngest player to start a first-team game for the Gunners, breaking a mark set by Cesc Fabregas in October 2003 in the League Cup against Rotherham.
Porter is the club’s fourth choice, but got the call after number one stopper David Raya was ruled out with a thigh injury, summer signing Neto was cup-tied, having already featured in the competition for parent club Bournemouth, and Tommy Setford was also out injured.
“We told him yesterday and he was over the moon,” added Arteta on Porter.
“It is a big step, a big occasion, but he reacted really well. He was really composed in training and his team-mates helped him too. What an experience and what a way to break a record.”
Young Gunners step up in style
The Carabao Cup has long served as a platform for Arsenal to nurture young talent, with the likes of Cesc Fàbregas and Jack Wilshere beginning their careers in the competition.
Following a demanding Premier League clash against Manchester City, manager Mikel Arteta chose to rest several regular starters, fielding a youthful line-up that included Porter, full-back Josh Nichols (18), Myles Lewis-Skelly (18), and Ethan Nwaneri, all making their full senior debuts. Teenagers Maldini Kacurri and Ismael Kabia also made their first-team appearances off the bench.
Despite the youthful team, Arsenal were boosted by the experience of Declan Rice and Jorginho in midfield, along with the attacking quality of Bukayo Saka and Raheem Sterling on the wings. This blend of youth and experience allowed Arsenal’s young players to shine in a comfortable win.
With a busy schedule ahead, the performances of these young Gunners could prove vital as Arsenal chase their first Premier League title in 21 years. Aside from a breakaway goal from Bolton’s Collins, the League One side—who are 58 places below Arsenal in the football league hierarchy—created little, with defensive mistakes ultimately costing them.
**Player of the Match**: Ethan Nwaneri.