Ethan Nwaneri shone brightly for Arsenal, scoring twice in their emphatic 5-1 victory over Bolton in the Carabao Cup third round at the Emirates Stadium.
The match was also memorable for 16-year-old goalkeeper Jack Porter, who made history as the club’s youngest-ever player to start a game, stepping in for the injured David Raya.
Porter captured attention before the match even began, marking a significant moment in his career despite being the team’s third-choice keeper.
As the Gunners geared up for the clash, the young talent prepared to make his debut on a night destined for the record books.
The spotlight, however, belonged to Nwaneri, the highly touted 17-year-old from Enfield. He scored in both halves, contributing to a night that the fans would not soon forget.
Arsenal’s scoring spree included goals from Declan Rice, Raheem Sterling, and Kai Havertz, while Aaron Collins managed to score for the League One side.
Arsenal entered the match fresh off a dramatic 2-2 draw against Manchester City in the Premier League, looking to regain momentum in a competition that former manager Arsène Wenger famously used to showcase emerging talents.
Wenger had introduced Cesc Fàbregas at the age of 16 years and 177 days in a League Cup match against Rotherham back in 2003, a record that stood for over two decades until Porter, at just 16 years and 77 days, was handed his chance due to the unavailability of Raya and Neto.
The match began with a moment of tension when, just four minutes in, Porter faced a potential threat as John McAtee approached his goal following a defensive error.
McAtee reached the byline but failed to convert as Scott Arfield blasted the subsequent backheel over the bar from close range.
Despite Bolton’s lowly 19th position in League One, they showed early confidence, appealing for a penalty when Josh Sheehan went down in the box after a challenge by Gabriel Jesus.
Referee Josh Smith dismissed the claims, and within a minute, Arsenal found the back of the net.
Declan Rice opened the scoring in the 16th minute, curling a beautiful shot past the helpless Luke Southwood after a mix-up in Bolton’s defense.
Soon after, Nwaneri marked his first start with his inaugural goal. Following a precise through-ball from 17-year-old Myles Lewis-Skelly, Raheem Sterling sent in a pinpoint cross that Nwaneri expertly converted.
Nwaneri struck again just four minutes into the second half. Following a defensive slip by Chris Forino, he found himself in plenty of space, firing under Southwood to extend Arsenal’s lead to three goals.
Although Arsenal was firmly in control, Bolton managed to pull one back through Collins, who broke free from an Arsenal corner and rounded Porter to finish into an empty net just minutes later.
Arsenal responded quickly to restore their three-goal cushion. Bukayo Saka’s shot was parried by Southwood, allowing Sterling to tap in from close range, marking his first goal for the Gunners on his debut start.
The scoring was rounded off with a strike from Havertz, who netted after a rebound from Sterling’s shot, sealing a convincing 5-1 victory.
With this resounding win, Arsenal turns its focus back to the Premier League, where they will face Leicester at the Emirates on Saturday, aiming to maintain their pursuit of domestic glory.
