Even at a club with the riches of Arsenal, there’s nothing better than an academy product netting his first senior goal.
At long last, that’s exactly what Ethan Nwaneri did on Wednesday night as he fired home from close range to put the Gunners 2-0 up against Bolton Wanderers in the EFL Cup.
Boasting a remarkable record of 27 goals and 10 assists in 52 appearances for Arsenal’s U21 and U18 sides combined, this is only Nwaneri’s fourth appearance for the senior team.
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And aged just 17 years old, the attacking midfielder is finally off the mark for the Gunners, but it gets even better for Arsenal supporters.
Feast your eyes on the goal below, which features a stunning through-ball from Myles Lewis-Skelly to find Raheem Sterling, who delivered a delicious cross on his first start for the club to set up Nwaneri.
Sterling ? Nwaneri
A first Arsenal goal for Ethan Nwaneri ? pic.twitter.com/3IKlUWAv0y
— Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) September 25, 2024
“The movement from Sterling, the ball from Lewis Skelley, they catch Bolton Wanderers sleeping,” former Premier League striker Michael Bridges said on Sky Sports (via BBC Sport).
“There was only going to be one outcome, Sterling puts into a dangerous area but Nwaneri with a lovely finish.”