Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta praised the performance of Ethan Nwaneri after his impressive brace in Arsenal’s 5-1 win win against Bolton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday night.

The 17-year-old midfielder made his first start for the Gunners at the Emirates Stadium, leaving a lasting impression with a stellar performance that helped secure the victory.

Nwaneri doubled Arsenal’s lead in the first half, converting a pinpoint cross from Raheem Sterling to net his first-ever goal for the club.

Shortly after the break, he added a second, calmly finishing after a defensive lapse from Bolton, extending the Gunners’ lead to three goals.

The Emirates crowd erupted in support, chanting “Ethan Nwaneri, he’s one of our own,” as they celebrated the teenager’s contribution to the victory.

After the match, Mikel Arteta echoed the sentiments of the fans, applauding Nwaneri’s composure and maturity on the pitch.

Speaking to the club’s official website, Arteta expressed his confidence in the youngster’s ability to compete at the highest level.

“The boy is ready,” Arteta said. “He’s improving daily. They 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. Today he had a really strong performance and I’m happy to see that.”

Nwaneri wasn’t the only debutant of Nigerian descent in the squad as fellow academy trained player Josh Nichols, 18, also made his full debut for the Gunners.

Nichols was involved in the buildup to Arsenal’s opening goal, with Declan Rice finding the net after Bolton failed to clear his cross.

With the convincing victory, Arsenal now progress to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, where they will face Preston FC.