Arsenal 5-1 Bolton Wanderers - Teenager Ethan Nwaneri and Raheem Sterling score first Arsenal goals in big win
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ByEurosport
Updated 25/09/2024 at 21:09 GMT
17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri and deadline day signing Raheem Sterling both scored their first Arsenal goals as the Gunners hammered Bolton 4-1 in the EFL Cup third round on Wednesday. Nwaneri scored either side of half-time after Declan Rice had given the home team the lead. Aaron Collins pulled one back for Bolton before Sterling opened his account and Kai Havertz added a fifth.
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Arsenal advanced into the Carabao Cup fourth round after a thumping 5-1 victory against Bolton Wanderers.
Mikel Arteta’s men didn’t take long to get started at Emirates Stadium, with Declan Rice firing the Gunners ahead from outside the box after 16 minutes, capitalising on a failed clearance from Scott Arfield.
Ethan Nwaneri made it 2-0 to Arsenal less than 20 minutes later, on what was his first start for the club, stroking home from close range after some great work from Raheem Sterling.
Nwaneri grabbed his second just four minutes into the second half, with Rice exploiting another defensive mistake before feeding Nwaneri, who fired his effort past Luke Southwood.
Bolton did give their travelling support something to cheer about just after half-time, with Aaron Collins catching Arsenal on the break before sliding his effort past Jack Porter.
Normal service resumed shortly after, though, with Raheem Sterling netting his first Arsenal goal before Kai Havertz made it 5-1, just six minutes after entering the fray.
Talking Point – The kids are alright
With the ever-increasing schedule of a top-level Premier League club, Mikel Arteta rang the changes for tonight’s match and will be delighted with the performance of his side.
With this clash coming just three days after Arsenal’s dramatic 2-2 draw with Manchester City, it was a chance for some of the highly-touted youngsters at the club to impress.
Jack Porter made his debut in goal at just 16, while 18-year-old Josh Nichols also made his debut, doing well for Arsenal’s fourth goal and acquitting himself well overall.
Myles Lewis-Skelly, 17, also started, playing well before coming off on the hour mark and fellow 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri had a night to remember on what was his first start for the club, scoring a brace and putting in a fantastic overall performance for the Gunners.
In the second half, Arteta was able to make even more changes, giving both 17-year-old Maldini Kacurri and 18-year-old Ismeal Kabia their debuts.
Tonight will be an immensely proud moment for those young players, the supporters and the club, showing that the pathway from Hale End to the first team is there if they are talented and driven enough to make the step up. The fact that the performance and result was a superb one will only make this moment even sweeter for those involved.
Player of the Match – Raheem Sterling (Arsenal)
The 29-year-old was absolutely brilliant for Arsenal tonight on what was his first start for the club. After a somewhat disappointing recent chapter in his career, he was back performing at the level he is capable of.
Sterling was a constant threat all evening, making sharp incisive runs behind the Bolton defence and out wide. He did brilliantly for Arsenal’s second goal, providing the assist for Ethan Nwaneri, scored Arsenal’s fourth goal and it was his shot on target which was parried into the path of Kai Havertz to score Arsenal’s fifth.
He was involved throughout and thoroughly deserves the plaudits for his performance.
Player Ratings
Arsenal: Porter 6, Nichols 7, Kiwior 7, Calafiori 7, Lewis-Skelly 7, Nwaneri 8, Jorginho 7, Rice 8, Saka 8, Jesus 7, Sterling 9 Subs: Gabriel 6, Havertz 7, Kacurri 6, Martinelli 6, Kabia N/A
Bolton: Southwood 5, Santos 6, Forino 6, Toal 6, Dacres-Cogley 6, Arfield 5, Sheehan 6, Dempsey 6, Williams 6, McAtee 7, Collins 7 Subs: Matete 6, Thomason 6, Johnston 6, Adeboyejo N/A, Charles N/A
Match Highlights
16’ GOAL! ARSENAL 1-0 BOLTON (RICE) - Declan Rice has fired the Gunners into the lead with a fine strike from outside the box. Scott Arfield completely misses what should be a relatively simple clearance which invites Rice to step onto the ball, shift it to his right before wrapping home a low effort into the corner.
38’ GOAL! ARSENAL 2-0 BOLTON (NWANERI) - 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri has made it 2-0 to the Gunners at the Emirates! Lewis-Skelly releases Raheem Sterling down the left, he then fires a low cross across the box and Nwaneri is on hand to sweep the ball home. A great goal.
42’ A GREAT EFFORT - Sterling tries his luck from distance but Southwood dives across well to tip it around for a corner.
49’ GOAL! ARSENAL 3-0 BOLTON (NWANERI) - Mikel Arteta's men haven't wasted any time in the second period! Bolton try and play out from the back, give the ball straight to Rice, who feeds it into Nwaneri. He fires it past Southwood to make it 3-0.
53’ GOAL! ARSENAL 3-1 BOLTON (COLLINS) - Aaron Collins has given the travelling Trotters something to cheer with a goal! Collins is fed down the right into acres of space, he's able to drive into the box before taking the ball around Porter and firing home.
64’ GOAL! ARSENAL 4-1 BOLTON (STERLING) - Sterling has scored his first goal in Arsenal colours and he thoroughly deserves that one for his performance tonight. Saka gets past his man far too easily before firing the ball into the box and after a deflection, Sterling was on hand to tap home.
77’ GOAL! ARSENAL 5-1 BOLTON (HAVERTZ) - Kai Havertz makes it five! Sterling does brilliantly to drive into the box, his shot is saved by Southwood but the ball falls to Havertz who reacts first to fire home.
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