Arsenal revel in the promise of youth on a night to remember for Jack Porter and Ethan Nwaneri

After all the talk of the so-called “dark arts” following Sunday’s meeting with Manchester City, here was a night of light work for an Arsenal team bursting with the thrilling promise of youth. 
A record-breaking evening for Mikel Arteta’s side included the appearance of a 16-year-old goalkeeper and a double by one of the most exciting youngsters in the English game. No matter what happens in the career of Jack Porter, a goalkeeper who only turned 16 in July, he will always have this night on his CV and in his mind. The night he became a professional footballer, playing in front of 60,000 fans at the Emirates, and the night he tasted victory for the first time in the senior game. 
The youngest player to ever start a match for Arsenal’s first team, beating a record previously held by Cesc Fabregas, Porter appeared to enjoy his big evening. He certainly had a good view of the action unfolding at the other end of the pitch, where a fellow teenager ­demonstrated his own enormous ability against a struggling Bolton Wanderers side.   
Ethan Nwaneri, the youngest player in Premier League history, has long been regarded as one of the most gifted prospects in Arsenal’s academy. Here, on his first start for the club, the 17-year-old demonstrated why. His two goals told a story of their own, as did his clever touches and feints. “Since his journey with the first team, he has always been ahead of what everybody expected,” Arteta said of Nwaneri. “I think he really feels part of us. You can tell that he’s playing with that confidence.” 
There was even more good news for Arteta, as Raheem Sterling excelled in attack. Sterling will face tougher opponents this season than Bolton, 19th in League One, but he looked unquestionably sharp here with a goal and an assist. 
Raheem Sterling opens his Arsenal account 💥 pic.twitter.com/Cby09qIkcf
In usual circumstances, the pre-match talk would have been dominated by the teenage outfielders in Arteta’s team, but on this occasion, the inclusion of Porter trumped all. It is one thing to select a 16-year-old in a competitive match, and another thing altogether to select a 16-year-old goalkeeper. This is football’s most unforgiving position and one can only imagine the thoughts running through young Porter’s head as this match kicked off. After all, he only made his debut for Arsenal’s under-21s in August. 
This was not just new territory for him, but an entirely new world. Porter’s inclusion was necessary because Arsenal found themselves in an extraordinary set of circumstances. David Raya was not deemed fit enough to play after requiring medical treatment in Sunday’s draw with Manchester City, while back-up goalkeeper Neto was cup-tied. Third-choice Tommy Setford was injured. 
“Arsenal is about giving young players the opportunity,” said academy manager Per Mertesacker before kick-off. “We are now in a situation where we are obviously focused on holistic development. They are not just playing football, they are doing so much more. I think Jack Porter should have been doing his education today, so he needs to catch up on that.”
 Porter’s nerves would not have been eased by the unfamiliar nature of the defence in front of him. This was far from Arsenal’s usual back line, and it featured two teenagers at full-back: Josh Nichols at right-back, and the hugely promising Myles Lewis-Skelly on the left. Nichols has been the subject of less hype than Lewis-Skelly and Nwaneri, but he started impressively on the right flank. It was his run and cross, after a neat exchange with Nwaneri, that led to Declan Rice’s opening goal after 16 minutes. 
The second goal came down the opposite side, with Lewis-Skelly producing an excellent pass to set Sterling free. Sterling found the cross that Nwaneri needed for his first senior goal for Arsenal. His second was to follow soon after the break, as Rice won the ball and played him through. It was a moment that triggered the home crowd’s first chant for him, as the Arsenal faithful declared Nwaneri “one of our own”. 
Ethan Nwaneri makes the most of a poor bit of play from Bolton and gets his second goal! ✨ pic.twitter.com/5lZlHSlNhC
At this point, it looked set to be the perfect night for Arsenal but Bolton were not yet in the mood to roll over. A counter-attack resulted in Aaron Collins skipping round Porter before sidefooting home. Inevitably, there were nervous moments for Porter. Shortly after that goal, he shanked the ball straight to a green shirt. 
Overall, though, he handled himself well. Arsenal’s home crowd cheered his every touch, and the senior players applauded his every precise pass. If Bolton’s goal had raised the hopes of their fans, then Sterling’s effort soon ripped it away again. Prodding home from close range, it was the sort of goal Sterling scored so often at City. It was Sterling’s shot that then allowed Kai Havertz to tap in the fifth on the rebound.
Young Gunners making us proud ❤️ pic.twitter.com/oWwfDpXfUZ
Jack Porter Josh Nichols Ismeal Kabia Maldini Kacurri Tonight was the first time #Arsenal have handed as many as four teenagers their first teams debuts in the same game since October 2015 vs Sheffield WednesdayKrystian Bielik Ismael Bennacer Alex IwobiGlen Kamara
70% – Arsenal have won 21 of their 30 games in all competitions in 2024, a win percentage of 70%. That is their joint best in any calendar year, along with 1932 (won 35/50, 70%). Artistic. pic.twitter.com/8ljiMwuPNE
Big hug from Declan Rice for Jack Porter, who is absolutely beaming as he walks down the tunnel. No matter what happens in his career, he’ll always have tonight. Must be quite a feeling. He did well, too. Fun night at the Emirates.
Arsenal move through to the fourth round with a straight forward win over their League One opponent.
Arsenal six academy players looked at home in senior football while the likes of Sterling made his mark in a red shirt for the first time.
One final test for Porter as Bolton win a late corner. But the 16-year-old passes it with flying colours, coming out and claiming the ball well.
And the final whistle blows.
Four minutes added on.
Martinelli has looked lively since coming on but his end product continues to let him down. Desperately needs a goal to boost his confidence.
Into the closing stages at the Emirates and the heavy is falling heavily. The Bolton want to get off the pitch now.
Arsenal subs
OFF SterlingON Kabia
Bolton subs
OFF McAtee & CollinsON Adeboyejo & Charles
Sterling, who has been sharp all night, picks up the ball in the box and his shot is saved by Southwood but from the rebound, Havertz flicks into the net.
That’s his third goal of the season.
Kai Havertz gets in on the act to make it FIVE for Arsenal 💥That nutmeg from Jesus in the build-up 🤯 pic.twitter.com/0TjgTpQ9bi
Reshuffle at the back for Arsenal after those changes. Kiwior has moved to left-back with Kacurri alongside Gabriel.
Sterling has replaced Saka on the right wing.
Arsenal subs
OFF Calafiori & SakaON Martinelli & Kacurri
Bolton subs
OFF Forino-JosephON Johnston
Bolton subs
OFF Dempsey & Arfield ON Thomason & Matete
It’s not quite the same goal he scored over and over again for City but that’s still a poacher’s finish inside the six-yard box by Raheem Sterling. Just like the old days on the City training ground with Arteta… 
That should do it for Arsenal. Saka toys with his man and fires a shot at Southwood. The ball squirms under the Bolton keeper and Sterling is there to tap in from one yard.
A first start and a first Arsenal goal for Sterling.
Raheem Sterling opens his Arsenal account 💥 pic.twitter.com/Cby09qIkcf
Porter is a lucky boy. Gabriel plays it back to him, Porter tries to lift a pass over Collins but gets it wrong, passing straight to the attacker. Fortunately for the Arsenal keeper, the ball ricochets high and wide.
Lewis-Skelly goes down again and it appears he can’t continue. 
Arsenal subs:
OFF Lewis-Skelly & RiceON Gabriel & Havertz
Very surprised Saka is still playing.
Ethan Nwaneri (17y 188d) is the youngest player to score 2+ goals in a game for #Arsenal since Arturo Lupoli vs Everton in November 2004 (17y 138d). https://t.co/EPuNMzYS7t
An issue for Lewis-Skelly, who is receiving treatment for an ankle problem. The 17-year-old walks off the pitch but looks to be OK to continue.
Against the run of play, Bolton get one back. McAtee releases Collins, with Jorginho the only Arsenal man back. 
Collins has Porter to beat, goes around the teenager and passes into an empty net.
Game on?
From one box to another just like that! ⚡Calm as you like from Aaron Collins with the finish 🥶 pic.twitter.com/JNk9oO6peO
Nwaneri at the double. Forino-Joseph carelessly gives the ball away and Rice bursts on to it and lays it off to Nwaneri, who runs in unchallenged and slots past Southwood.
‘He’s one of our own, he’s one of our own, Ethan Nwaneri, he’s one of our own’ rings around the Emirates.
Ethan Nwaneri makes the most of a poor bit of play from Bolton and gets his second goal! ✨ pic.twitter.com/5lZlHSlNhC
No changes for either side at the break. A bit surprising that Arteta has kept Saka and Rice on the field. 
Nwenari looks like he’ll go right to the top but I wasn’t expecting Lewis Skelly to look as good as he did in that half. 2 very very good prospects here
Nwaneri and Lewis Skelly are so damn good. both of them good enough to start in the prem for sure
All attention is always on #Nwaneri but Lewis-Skelly is also so good. He’s a natural midfielder but has adapted so well in the inverted left back role. I’d love to see him play more in midfield though. He’s very mature, fearless and with great pass accuracy.
Arsenal look well on course for the fourth round courtesy of goals from Rice and Nwaneri.
Arteta may look to make changes at the break to keep his first-team players fresh.
A first assist for Raheem Sterling, which feels significant. But far more significant than that is a first goal for Ethan Nwaneri. The Arsenal fans like what they see. We have to be careful with players who are so young but there’s a reason for all the hype…
Sterling ⏩ NwaneriA first Arsenal goal for Ethan Nwaneri 👏 pic.twitter.com/3IKlUWAv0y
Big miss from Jesus. He is played through on goal, uses his shoulder to brush his man aside and with time to shoot, he puts the ball wide of the post. He had to get that on target. 
Three minutes added on.
Lewis-Skelly is inverting from left-back like Zinchenko and making it look easy. He started in the Arsenal academy as a midfielder so playing in that position is not unusual for him.
Sterling tests Southwood from distance with a curling effort from outside the box. The Bolton keeper pushes the ball out for a corner.
Special moment for Nwaneri. A defence spliting pass by Lewis-Skelly down the line, Sterling runs onto it and squares it across the box to Nwaneri, who is sprinting down the centre and scrambles the ball into the goal.
Yellow card for Calafiori after he pulls back a Bolton attacker.
Bolton earn themselves a corner. They opt not to crowd Porter and he gets a decent punch on the ball. Arsenal fail to clear their lines though, Bolton recycle the ball and McAtee shoots over. That was another chance for the away side.
Porter in the Arsenal goal still yet to be tested but he has looked at ease when needed to pass out from the back. The Arsenal fans behind are giving him plenty of encouragement.
Jesus wants a corner but the referee says no after his flick at the near post is deflected wide.
Calafiori has continued where he left off at the Etihad on Sunday. The Italian defender looks so comfortable and silky on the ball. 
He looks like an excellent buy for Arteta.
Arsenal were perhaps fortunate to have not conceded a penalty, when Jesus challenged Sheehan, but they have their lead. A fine finish by Rice after Arfield comically missed his kick. 
We’ve seen some lovely early touches by Nwaneri here, playing in the Odegaard role. Can he do enough to earn a starting place in the Premier League team?
Nichols crosses to the edge of the box, Bolton fails to clear it and the ball falls to Rice, who curls a lovely shot into the bottom corner.
That finish from Declan Rice 🔥 pic.twitter.com/19mNqODgyR
Sheehan wants a penalty after going down in the box. The ref says no but the replays show the Bolton midfielder getting across Jesus then going down.
Let’s just say we’ve seen them given.
Sterling has made a lively start on the left wing for Arsenal. He will want to make an impression following his loan move from Chelsea.
Arsenal academy manager Per Mertesacker: “Arsenal is about giving young players the opportunity. We are now in a situation where in the academy we are obviously focused on holistic development, they are not just playing football, they are doing so much more. I think Jack Porter for example should have been doing his education today, so he needs to catch up on that! We are trying to build up the best people, because that’s the only way you’re going to be the best player.”
Calafiori gives the ball away deep in his half, McAtee heads towards the goal and hits a nice backheel to Arfield on the six-yard box and the midfielder shoots over.
Big chance for the League One side.
The home team are dominating possession early on here as the away side sit deep and in numbers. If Arsenal keep the ball this much, Porter won’t have much to do.
Referee Josh Smith blows the whistle and Bolton get the match started.
In usual circumstances, all the pre-match talk here at the Emirates Stadium would be about young stars Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly, who are two of the top talents in the country.
But the inclusion of a 16-year-old goalkeeper in Arsenal’s starting lineup is so extraordinary that it has dominated everything else. Playing a 16-year-old footballer in any competitive match is a bold move, and a huge test for the player. But it feels even more extreme when it’s a goalkeeper. This is the most unforgiving position in football. 
Will Bolton shoot at every opportunity? You would assume so. I would expect every corner to be swung into the six-yard box, too. 
Porter, Nwaneri, Nichols and Lewis-Skelly become the first players to play in a competitive game at the Emirates Stadium, who were born after the stadium opened in July 2006.
It was a bad twist to my ankle, and I damaged some ligaments there, but it’s part of football and now I’m just trying to recover as quickly as I can. I’m moving forward, making progress and I’m feeling more positive every day. I’m working hard and my only thought is to get back as soon as possible.
I’m at the Sobha Realty Training Centre basically every day now, working hard and doing everything I can do to get better. I have to be careful not to push it too much, but at the same time do what I can to make sure I come back as strongly and quickly as possible. I’m trying to support the team in a different way now, if I can’t be on the pitch. That’s my situation, and I have to make the best out of it.
It’s something I’m not used to. I’ve been quite fortunate, if that’s the word, or have done well to avoid injuries in the past, but this is football and I have to get on with it. I think it was unfortunate to get the injury in the way that I did, but also it could have been worse. It was not a nice twist, and when it happened I felt it could be serious. I’ve injured my ankle before and the pain felt a bit different this time. That’s what scared me, but from what happened it could have been worse, so in that sense I got away with it a bit.
Like any player, the first thing I asked the medical team was how long I would be out for, but it’s a bit tricky to say at the moment. In the early stages, it’s crucial to get a proper rest and to make sure everything heals well. After that it’s about getting stronger and building it up again.
With David Raya injured, Jack Porter starts in goal. In front of him in defence are two other academy mates in right-back Josh Nichols and left-back Myles Lewis-Skelly. Ethan Nwaneri also makes his full debut in midfield.
There is a sprinkling of experience with Raheem Sterling, Declan Rice, Bukayo Saka and Jorginho all involved. And the bench features William Saliba, Gabriel, Thomas Partey, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli.
Bolton boss Ian Evatt makes seven changes to the side that beat Reading 5-2 at the weekend. Josh Dacres-Cogley, Ricardo Santos, Eoin Toal and Josh Sheehan are the only players to retain their places.
Summer signings John McAtee, Scott Arfield and Chris Forino all start. 
 
🟢 Your Wanderers side to take on @Arsenal this evening!Seven changes from Saturday’s win 🔄COYWM ✊#bwfc pic.twitter.com/DeWJNKb5Pl
Making memories representing The Arsenal 🤩🤝 @ArsenalAcademy pic.twitter.com/ovYIwu0RQA
Sixteen-year-old goalkeeper Jack Porter is set to become the youngest player to start a match for Arsenal after he was selected to play against Bolton Wanderers in Wednesday’s League Cup match. 
Porter has come into the side because of an injury to first-choice goalkeeper David Raya, who required medical treatment during Arsenal’s dramatic 2-2 draw against Manchester City on Sunday. 
Arsenal’s usual back-up to Raya is Brazilian goalkeeper Neto, who signed on a season-long loan in August, but the 35-year-old is cup-tied after playing in the competition for Bournemouth before moving to north London.
Click here for more on Arsenal’s teen shot-stopper.
🔴 𝗧𝗘𝗔𝗠𝙉𝙀𝙒𝙎 ⚪️🧤 Porter between the sticks©️ Jorginho skippers the side🆕 Sterling makes full debutLet’s seal our place in the next round, Gunners 💪 pic.twitter.com/4JaNpNMBeC
Hello and welcome to coverage from the Emirates as Arsenal host Bolton in the League Cup third round.
We expect Mikel Arteta to select a much-changed team from the XI that were held to a 2-2 draw by Manchester City on Sunday.
He said: “We want to win the game. We have to start with the first game. We have to understand what is the best team, the strongest team that we can put out to perform in the way that we need to to be better than Bolton and beat them.
“In terms of trophies, it’s a success only if you win it. How you measure success or associate that word, we can have a much deeper conversation. But we are here to win, we are here to win the big competitions and the ones people consider not that big. That’s our duty.”
Bolton are 19th in League One and won 5-2 against Reading on Saturday. Manager Ian Evatt says there is no pressure on his players and told them to embrace the occasion.
Evatt: “It’s something we can all enjoy off the back of a good performance on Saturday. We can go there with the pressure off and just know this is as tough as it gets and go there humble enough to know that there is zero expectation and no-one thinks we’ve got a cat in hell’s chance.
“But what we can do is go and learn about what it takes to be either a manager or a player at that level. We will go there and give it our best shot and see where that takes us. We are going to do our best to be competitive and hopefully we can make it an enjoyable experience, not just for us but for our supporters who are going down in their numbers again.”