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Arsenal's youth prove they have something to offer Mikel Arteta's project
- Four academy players started against Bolton
- One in particular put in a brilliant performance
- Two more came off the bench in the second-half
Arsenal beat Bolton 5-1 in the third round of the Carabao Cup on Wednesday evening, and plenty of it was down to impressive displays from academy stars.
The starting XI was made up of a mix of youth and experience, with four youngsters named in the lineup. Another four were included on the bench, with two brought on in the second half.
Ethan Nwaneri, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Josh Nichols and 16-year-old Jack Porter were all included in the starting team, while Alexei Rojas, Ayden Heaven, Maldini Kaccuri and Ismeal Kabia were named on the bench. The latter two were brought on as substitutes.
Despite their inexperience, each of the youngsters made the most of their chances and showed more than mere competence at the senior level.
Arsenal's youth prove they have something to offer Mikel Arteta's project
Every youngster who spent time on the pitch put in an impressive performance, but there was one that stood out from the rest. Ethan Nwaneri introduced himself to the Arsenal starting XI with a brace, his first senior goals for the club.
The Premier League record-breaker put in a star performance alongside his two goals. He completed 26 out of 28 passes, giving him a completion rate of 93%. He also created two chances and won three duels.
With his performance against the Trotters, he has proven to Mikel Arteta that he is ready for serious first-team minutes. He has shown why there is so much hype surrounding him and has put himself in genuine contention to start against Leicester on Saturday.
Nwaneri's fellow academy stars also put in good performances. Josh Nichols had a good debut at right back, winning two duels and completing two defensive actions. Myles Lewis-Skelly also followed up his debut against Manchester City with a decent game, managing a 90% pass accuracy and winning one attempted tackle.
Perhaps the most surprising inclusion in the starting lineup was 16-year-old Jack Porter. He did well between the sticks, making one high claim and seven recoveries. There was not much he could do about Bolton's goal.
Every youth player involved did well and made the most of the huge chances presented to them. With a trip to Championship side Preston North End soon to come, there is no doubt the same group of players will have another great chance to impress. Arteta should now be seriously considering these youngsters as genuine first-team options for the foreseeable future.
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