Arsenal cruised to a dominant 5-1 victory over Bolton in a match of the 3rd round in the Carabao Cup at the Emirates Stadium last night. Manager Mikel Arteta took the opportunity to field a youthful squad, starting with four teenagers, and it paid off in a big way. The youngest between the four was the 16 year old goalkeeper Jack Porter but the standout performance came from 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri, who scored two goals, marking his first professional goals for the club.
A performance to be proud of 🪄
Tonight's Player of the Match: Ethan Nwaneri 👏 pic.twitter.com/RlT5bDhnNQ
— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 25, 2024
Nwaneri’s brace thrilled the Arsenal fans, who chanted “Ethan Nwaneri, you’re one of our own” in recognition of his incredible performance. Reflecting on the night, the youngster shared his emotions: “It’s a great feeling when the club you love, the club you’ve grown up with, the fans are chanting for you. It’s a surreal feeling. It’s a feeling I’ve wanted to feel for almost 16 years of my life, I just want more of it!”
Another milestone came when Raheem Sterling scored his first goal in an Arsenal shirt, contributing to the comfortable win. Arteta, delighted with his young team’s performance, joked about the youthful energy on the field: “There are a few players who have school in the morning! You can see their faces… they’re buzzing!”