Teenager Ethan Nwaneri scored his first Arsenal goals as they cruised to victory over League One Bolton to reach the Carabao Cup fourth round.

The 17-year-old, making his first senior start for the club, slotted into an empty net from Raheem Sterling's cross, before taking advantage of some sloppy Bolton play to pick up the ball from Declan Rice and roll under visiting goalkeeper Luke Southwood.

Nwaneri's two goals came after he had already played a part in Arsenal’s 16th-minute opener with a fizzed cross which Scott Arfield failed to clear and Rice dispatched a calm finish into the bottom corner.

"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."

Source: BBC

BDST: 1000 HRS, SEPT 26, 2024
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