Arsenal stormed into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup with a 5-1 victory over Bolton Wanderers, led by 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri’s impressive brace and a debut goal from Raheem Sterling.
Declan Rice opened the scoring for the Gunners, taking advantage of a defensive slip by Scott Arfield to slot home from outside the box. Shortly before half-time, Sterling delivered a pinpoint cross for Nwaneri, who calmly converted to make it 2-0.
Nwaneri struck again early in the second half after Rice dispossessed Bolton’s defense, allowing the youngster to finish confidently past Luke Southwood. Bolton responded with a goal from Aaron Collins, who broke free on the counter and rounded Arsenal’s 16-year-old debutant goalkeeper Jack Porter.
However, Arsenal quickly restored their dominance. Sterling found the back of the net for his first goal with the club, finishing from close range after Bukayo Saka’s effort was deflected. Kai Havertz capped off the night with a fifth goal, six minutes after coming on as a substitute.
The match also saw several Arsenal academy products make their first-team debuts, including Josh Nichols, Myles Lewis-Skelly, and Maldini Kacurri, highlighting the strength of the club’s youth system.
Manager Mikel Arteta will be pleased with the performance of his young squad, especially with Nwaneri’s breakout display. Arsenal will face Preston North End in the next round.
Standout Performances:
- Ethan Nwaneri: The 17-year-old stole the show with two goals and a confident all-around performance in his first start for the club.
- Raheem Sterling: The seasoned forward contributed a goal and an assist on his full debut, proving a key figure in Arsenal’s attacking play.
Arsenal’s mix of youthful exuberance and experience proved too much for Bolton, setting up an exciting next round in their cup run.
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