Ethan Nwaneri shines brightest of all as Arsenal's next generation take centre stage

It is an indication of the team Mikel Arteta picked for this Carabao Cup clash with Bolton, that he was legitimately asked afterwards if some of his players had school in the morning.

Four teenagers were in Arsenal’s side, with two more coming off the bench, but nonetheless they made light work of Bolton.

A 5-1 victory was just what the Gunners deserved and for Arteta it was a welcome relief after a gruelling run of away games against Atalanta, Manchester City and Tottenham.

That trio of matches has taken its toll on Arsenal’s squad and it is why Arteta’s hand was slightly forced on Wednesday night.

No more so was that the case in goal, with 16-year-old Jack Porter becoming the youngest player to start a game for Arsenal - beating Cesc Fabregas’ record by 105 days.

No1 goalkeeper David Raya was out with a thigh injury, backup goalkeeper Neto was cup tied and Arsenal’s third-choice Tommy Setford had a hip issue.

It meant Porter was given the nod and in the end he had a fairly comfortable night’s work as Arsenal’s attack dominated the game.

Ethan Nwaneri was the brightest of Arsenal’s young stars and the biggest compliment you could pay him is that he didn’t look like an academy prospect.

The 17-year-old slotted seamlessly into midfield alongside Declan Rice and Jorginho, finishing the match with two goals and Emirates Stadium singing: “He’s one of our own”.

Arsenal have always known Nwaneri was a serious talent and the plan has been to slowly ease him into the first team after he made his debut two years ago at the age of 15.

The midfielder has had to patiently wait for his first start but, after making it, the feeling you came away with was that a second surely isn’t too far away.

“He’s improving daily,” said Arteta. “They (Arsenal’s senior players) really respect him.

“You can tell he’s playing without pressure, with confidence, with a way of making decisions that tells you that the boy is ready at this level.”

Nwaneri’s sharpness and touch on the ball is what made him standout, but physically he looks ready, too.

This was an imposing Bolton side, who are fighting at the bottom of League One, however Nwaneri held his own.

His first goal was thanks in part to another academy star, with left-back Myles Lewis-Skelly playing a great ball to set Raheem Sterling away down the left. Once there, the winger fizzed a cross in for Nwaneri and he slid home to score.

The 17-year-old’s second showed his confidence. After Declan Rice won the ball high up the pitch, Nwaneri was clean through. He could have perhaps passed, but instead shot and doubled his tally.

“I was really happy for him because he scored,” said Arteta. “I’m very happy because you know, I know, the reaction of his teammates if he wouldn’t!”

The next step for Nwaneri is making his mark in the Premier League and that chance could come over the next 10 days.

Arsenal have Leicester and Southampton at home in that time, with Arteta confirming earlier this week captain Martin Odegaard will not be back for those matches due to his ankle injury.

Nwaneri feels like a legitimate option now, at least as an impact player off the bench if the Gunners are in need of a goal.

He has that swagger a talented young player needs and the appetite for more after getting a taste of first-team football.

The same goes for Raheem Sterling, who on another evening would have been the story. The winger marked his first start for Arsenal with a goal and assist.

He showed flashes of what he can do, repeatedly taking on his full-back, and as the schedule ramps towards the turn of the year, Sterling will be a valuable asset.

Nwaneri will hope the same can be said of him.