Arsenal’s young star Ethan Nwaneri made an impressive impact during his first senior start, scoring twice in a 5-1 victory against Bolton in the English League Cup. The 17-year-old showcased his talent, while new recruit Raheem Sterling found the net for the first time since his move from Chelsea.
Arsenal’s lineup featured several emerging talents, including goalkeeper Jack Porter, who at 16 years and 72 days became the youngest player to start for the club, surpassing Cesc Fabregas’s previous record. Nwaneri is noted for being the youngest player to appear for Arsenal’s first team, debuting as a substitute at 15 years and 181 days in September 2022.
In the match, Nwaneri opened his scoring account in the 37th minute, after Declan Rice had initially given Arsenal the lead in the 16th minute. He added his second goal just four minutes into the second half. While Aaron Collins pulled one back for Bolton in the 53rd minute, goals from Sterling in the 64th minute and Kai Havertz in the 77th completed the scoreline.
In another match, Liverpool had a dominant start to their League Cup defense with a 5-1 win over West Ham. After falling behind to an own goal from Jarell Quansah in the 21st minute, Liverpool quickly equalized with a goal from Diogo Jota, who went on to net another shortly after halftime. Mohamed Salah and Cody Gakpo added to the scoreline, firmly establishing Liverpool’s control over the match.
The fourth-round draw for the League Cup has set up some exciting fixtures. Manchester City will face Tottenham, while Liverpool will take on Brighton. Arsenal will travel to Preston, and Manchester United will host Leicester. If Newcastle can get past AFC Wimbledon, they will host Chelsea, and an all-Premier League clash featuring Aston Villa against Crystal Palace is also on the cards. Meanwhile, Brentford will host Sheffield Wednesday and Southampton will take on Stoke at home.