GOLDEN BOY: 17y/o Ethan Nwaneri runs the show against League One opposition in comfortable win for Gunners

Teenager continues the legacy of Gunners legends.

A few of Arsenal’s most promising young players have achieved success in the Carabao Cup.

Ethan Nwaneri, 17, is another person you can put on that list.

Teenager Ethan Nwaneri was the man of the moment

In a third-round match against Rotherham in October 2003, Cesc Fabregas made history as the club’s youngest-ever first-team starter under Arsene Wenger. Two months later, in a fourth-round match against Wolves, he became the club’s youngest-ever scored.

At 16 years and 266 days old, Jack Wilshere started and scored his first goal for his senior team in September 2008, when they thrashed Sheffield United 6-0 in the third round.

And Gunners manager Mikel Arteta continued that tradition last night against Bolton by throwing more record-breaking Hale End academy teenagers into a third-round match.

Since taking over in December 2019, Arteta has given debuts to TWELVE academy players, four of whom received their first run-outs. However, two-goal Nwaneri stole the show.

When Nwaneri, at 15 years and 181 days old, made a substitute appearance away at Brentford in September 2022, he officially became the youngest Premier League player ever.

And here at the Emirates, where he made his first senior start, the midfield sensation scored twice before halftime in response to Declan Rice’s opening goal against the Trotters in the 16th minute.

At 17 years and 188 days, Nwaneri is now Arsenal’s fourth youngest scorer of the 21st century, behind Fabregas, Wilshere and Arturo Lupoli.

With No. 1, Arteta experienced a headache in between the sticks. Tommy Setford, age eighteen, was hurt, while new signing Neto was cup-tied. David Raya was rested as a precaution after suffering a thigh knock.

Declan Rice opened the scoring for ArsenalCredit: PARice celebrates his openerCredit: ReutersNwaneri ran the show at the EmiratesCredit: AFPNwaneri celebrates his firstCredit: GettyThus, Jack Porter, the young keeper from Essex who was born at the age of sixteen and seventy-two, surpassed the legendary Fabregas to become the youngest player to ever start a game for Arsenal.

In addition, Porter is currently the second-youngest player to participate in a professional match, after Nwaneri, and holds the record for being Arsenal’s youngest goalie in club history by two years.Porter’s hopes of keeping a clean sheet were destroyed in the 53rd minute as Aaron Collins rounded the young player following a quick attack. Porter did not need to make a save.

Even though Raheem Sterling scored a goal in his first start since signing on loan from Chelsea this summer, his debut was somewhat overshadowed by the hubbub surrounding Hale End.

After Sunday’s Battle of the Etihad, Arteta made significant changes to his team, bringing in nine academy players, including Porter and Nwaneri. Of these, five, including Josh Nichols, Myles Lewis-Skelly, and Bukayo Saka, started with an average age of 22.7.

Left-back Lewis-Skelly, 17, had an eventful senior debut against Manchester City last weekend – booked as a sub and squaring up to Erling Haaland at full-time, but earned his first start in this one while right-back Nichols, 18, made his full debut.

Along with defender Kacurri and winger Kabia, both 18 years old, who made their debuts late in the game, other young Guns Ismeal Kabia, Maldini Kacurri, Ayden Heaven, and Alexei Rojas completed a formidable bench.

Ben White, Leandro Trossard, Raya, and Jurrien Timber were left behind at home, but Porter—a guy who had only experienced U21 football once in August—was the centre of attention early on.

With a nervy fifth minute first touch, he was left on his backside, but such was Arsenal’s dominance that Porter’s only real job before the break was to pick an offside goal out of his net.When Scott Arfield failed to stop a cross from Nichols, Rice curled in a lovely attempt, and Sterling set up Nwaneri for a tap-in in the 37th minute.

Nwaneri scored a fairy tale second goal in the 49th minute thanks to some shoddy back-row play by the visitors, and Sterling and Kai Havertz completed an almost flawless evening in North London after Lewis-Skelly hobbled out with an injury at the hour mark.Nwaneri doubled his tally.Nwaneri had a night to remember.Raheem Sterling got his first Arsenal goal.Sterling was all smiles in Arsenal red.Aaron Collins pulled one back for Bolton.It was nothing more than a consolation.Kai Havertz got in on the action.It wrapped up the win.