Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta hails midfielder Ethan Nwaneri after EFL Cup brace as 'ahead of what anyone expected'
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Published 26/09/2024 at 06:17 GMT
There was a decidedly youthful look to Arsenal's squad in their EFL Cup thrashing of Bolton Wanderers. It was Ethan Nwaneri (17) and Jack Porter (16) who stole the headlines, but Josh Nichols (18) and Myles Lewis-Skelly (18) also made their full senior debuts, while fellow teenagers Maldini Kacurri (18) and Ismeal Kabia (18) came off the bench.
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Mikel Arteta says teenager Ethan Nwaneri is “ahead of what anyone expected” after he scored his first senior goals for Arsenal.
Nwaneri struck twice as the club’s young stars shone in a 5-1 rout of Bolton Wanderers in the EFL Cup third round.
Goals from Declan Rice, Raheem Sterling - who scored his first Arsenal goal on his first start for the club - and Kai Havertz also contributed to the win, which has led to them being drawn to face Preston North End in the next round of the competition.
Speaking of Nwaneri’s impact, Arteta said: “I think it was a really strong performance for him. I think he really feels part of us.
“You can tell that he's playing with that confidence, that belief and the understanding of what he needs to do on the pitch - so very impressed.”
Nwaneri - who came through the club's academy system - made his debut against Brentford in 2022, when he became the youngest player to appear in the top flight of English football at the age of 15.
Now 17, Arteta has been asked if he is doing enough to be more regularly involved at first-team level.
“It’s another step. I think it’s ahead of what anyone could have expected, in his journey with the first-team he’s always ahead of what anyone expected and what I expected as well. He’s part of us so he will have the minutes,” Arteta said.
It was also a record-breaking night for another of Arsenal’s youngsters, with goalkeeper Jack Porter becoming the club’s youngest ever player to start a first-team game.
“I think he reacted really well,” Arteta said of Porter’s performance.
“He was really composed yesterday in training. Today as well. His teammates really helped him as well on that. And what an experience and what a way to break a record.
“Jack has been training with us since pre-season, we’re confident he can do the role. Obviously he plays in the international team (Porter has played for England at youth level), we’ve seen what he can do and we believe he was the right choice.”
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Goalkeeper Jack Porter (16) made history as he became the youngest player to start a first team game for Arsenal in the 5-1 EFL Cup win against Bolton
Image credit: Getty Images
Nwaneri and Porter were not the only young players involved in the victory, as Josh Nichols (18) and Myles Lewis-Skelly (18) made their full senior debuts while fellow teenagers Maldini Kacurri (18) and Ismeal Kabia (18) came off the bench.
Porter - who is the club’s fourth-choice goalkeeper - was given the opportunity due to injuries to David Raya and Tommy Setford, while summer signing Neto was cup-tied.
Arsenal are back in action on Saturday, when they host Leicester City in the Premier League, but Arteta is unsure if his regular No. 1, Raya, will be available.
“We don’t know yet, he’s got a muscular injury,” the Spanish coach said.
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