Mikel Arteta said 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri is ready to make his mark on the Premier League after he scored twice in Arsenal’s 5-1 Carabao Cup victory against Bolton.
The highly-rated midfielder delivered on his first start for the Gunners after he struck in both halves, with Declan Rice, Raheem Sterling and Kai Havertz also on target.
Nwaneri was just 15 when Arteta made him the Premier League’s youngest player as a late substitute at Brentford two years ago.
However, Wednesday’s fixture – which also saw 16-year-old goalkeeper Jack Porter become Arsenal’s youngest ever starter – marked just his fourth senior appearance.
But when asked if Nwaneri, who came off the bench in Arsenal’s 1-0 win at Tottenham earlier this month, could be used more regularly in his side’s title bid, Arteta said: “Let’s go. It is another step. He is ahead of what anybody could expect.
“You can tell he is playing with a confidence and belief and an understanding of what he needs to do on the pitch.
“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.”
Arteta handed starts to four academy players, with Myles Lewis-Skelly (17) – who played a part in Nwaneri’s first-half strike following a fine through-ball to Sterling – Josh Nichols (18) and Porter all blooded at the Emirates Stadium.
Porter’s inclusion, with David Raya injured and a doubt for the next league match against Leicester, and Neto cup-tied, was the most significant after he surpassed Cesc Fabregas as Arsenal’s youngest player to start a match, aged 16 years and 72 days.
“We told him yesterday and he was over the moon,” said Arteta.
“He spoke straightaway to his family and
Arsenal
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League Cup
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Bolton
Mikel Arteta
Declan Rice
Kai Havertz
David Raya
Ian Evatt
Emirates Stadium
Ethan Nwaneri