Ethan Nwaneri and Jack Porter take the limelight in Arsenal’s win over Bolton

Ethan Nwaneri scored twice on a historic night for Arsenal after 16-year-old goalkeeper Jack Porter became the club’s youngest ever player to start a match in their 5-1 win against Bolton.

Porter, a replacement for the injured David Raya, stole the spotlight ahead of the third-round Carabao Cup fixture at the Emirates Stadium.

But it was the highly-rated Nwaneri whose name was up in lights when he scored a brace either side of the interval on a night to remember for the Enfield 17-year-old.

Declan Rice, Raheem Sterling and Kai Havertz also found the net, with Aaron Collins on target for the League One visitors.

Three days after their pulsating 2-2 draw against rivals Manchester City in the Premier League, Arsenal were returning to a competition that former manager Arsene Wenger used as a catwalk for his stars of the future.

Cesc Fabregas was 16 years and 177 days when he was handed his first Arsenal start in a third-round League Cup tie against Rotherham at Highbury in 2003.

It is a record which stood for more than two decades before Raya’s injury, coupled with Neto’s unavailability – after he played for Bournemouth in this competition earlier in the season – left Mikel Arteta handing a debut to his third-choice stopper Porter, aged 16 years and 77 days.

And only four minutes had gone when Porter, who has to wait until his 17th birthday in July before he is allowed to sign a professional contract, might have been tested.

Riccardo Calafiori gave the ball away and John McAtee was suddenly bearing down on Porter’s goal. McAtee made it to the byline but his cute backheel was blazed over by Scott Arfield from close range.

Bolton might be a lowly 19th in League One, but began with confidence and they were demanding a penalty