Arsenal 5-1 Bolton: Player ratings as Hale End stars in Carabao Cup win

Arsenal cruised into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup after thumping third-tier Bolton at sodden Emirates on Wednesday night.

There was great excitement among supporters regarding Mikel Arteta's team selection with Hale End heavily involved. 16-year-old Jack Porter was one of four academy stars in the manager's XI, while Raheem Sterling made his full debut for the club.

The Emirates faithful has, as you might expect, seen slicker and more inspiring performances from Gunners teams over the past few years, but they did get to enjoy the club's young guns properly begin their journeys at the senior level.

Ethan Nwaneri and Josh Nichols combined down the right before Declan Rice converted the latter's cross, which was poorly dealt with by the visitors, to give Arsenal the lead, before Nwaneri netted his first goal for the club after Myles Lewis-Skelly delivered a wonderful line-splitting pass in behind for Sterling, who subsequently found the arriving Nwaneri.

The two sides traded strikes at the start of the second half as a fine Bolton counter-attack finished off by Aaron Collins cancelled out Nwaneri's second, but Arsenal cruised thereafter. Sterling poked home a fourth before substitute Kai Havertz got in on the act.

Arsenal 5-1 Bolton player ratings

Here are the Arsenal player ratings from Wednesday night's cup win.

Goalkeeper & Defenders

Jack Porter (GK) - 6/10 - Arsenal's history-maker looked assured for the most part, but there was no clean sheet. An intercepted Porter pass almost led to Bolton's second.

Josh Nichols (RB) - 6/10 - I can fault the proactivity Nichols boasts in possession. He's always looking forward. His execution was off the mark in this one, but there were positive signs for sure.

Jakub Kiwior (CB) - 7/10 - Was always on hand to cover Nichols in the channel and was calm throughout with the ball at his feet.

Riccardo Calafiori (CB) - 5.5/10 - The Italian undoubtedly flashed some exciting glimmers, but his eagerness and courage in possession did get him into trouble at times. Booked midway through the first half.

Myles Lewis-Skelly (LB) - 7.5/10 - It was a shame the teenager was forced off in the second-half because he was enjoying himself on the Emirates turf. Lewis-Skelly buzzed around on the overlap and was available for switches of play from right to left. It was his lovely pass in behind which teed up the Gunners' second goal on the night.

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