A lot of Arsenal fans’ prayers were answered when Myles Lewis-Skelly passed the ball through to Raheem Sterling, whose cross was finished by Ethan Nwaneri.

The Gunners’ Hale End school both set up and scored their second goal. This part of the club is loved here, even though it feels like it’s not used enough.

People have been asking Mikel Arteta for a long time to give the kids a chance. They started soon after he was hired in December 2019. It’s not an easy ask when you’re trying to win the Premier League, but he may have been too careful at times.

On Wednesday night, he couldn’t have been charged of being so calm, and the kids really shone.

Since September 2022, when Arteta made Nwaneri, 17, the youngest player in Premier League history, he has mostly been left to watch from the bench.

His two goals helped Arsenal beat Bolton and move on to the fourth round of the EFL Cup, where they will play Preston at the Deepdale Stadium. It was a great display of his skill. 

The teenager’s second goal, which went right through custodian Luke Southwood’s hands, was the cherry on top of a great night for the kids. 

Sharp and at ease on this stage, Lewis-Skelly’s comfort with the ball was a clear sign. The 16-year-old custodian Jack Porter got a rough start because Neto was hurt and couldn’t play because of a cup tie. Porter was naturally nervous, but he almost pulled through without a disaster.

He threw the ball to Aaron Collins from close range, but it hit the Bolton player and missed the goal. A lucky kid who became Arsenal’s youngest player to ever start a game.

Arteta said, “It was a really good might in every way.” A lot of youth players were given the chance, and they did great. It’s so rewarding to see the joy on their faces and know how much it means to them.

‘We told Porter yesterday, and he was over the moon right away,’ he said about his start.

I believe he told his family, but they weren’t ready for that. But I think he handled it really well. He was very calm in training yesterday and today as well.

“What an adventure and what a way to break a record!”

The Emirates Stadium first opened in July 2006, but Nwaneri, Josh Nichols, Porter, and Lewis-Skelly were not even born yet. This is a fact that Arteta will definitely use when someone says he doesn’t play young players. 

But Nwaneri can’t be too far away from more minutes now. Not at all. He’s ready to play for the first team. 

Last few months, Arteta hasn’t paid much attention to domestic cup events. In 2020, their first year as manager, they won the FA Cup.

But these kinds of events have been put on hold, especially during the last campaign. There’s no harm in a prize, no matter how big it is.

The Spaniard seems to agree with that. With the score at 4-1, he brought on Gabriel, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Martinelli. That shows purpose.

David Raya got a break because he had to leave the Manchester City game with a wrap on his right knee.

Arsenal’s No. 2 custodian Neto, who came from Bournemouth on loan over the summer, was already in the cup. He played for the Cherries in their loss to West Ham in the second round before completing his move to north London.

Then, 18-year-old Tommy Setford, who was very potential, hasn’t been with the team since the international break because he’s been hurt.

That made it possible for Porter to come along. The goalie from Chelmsford had only played six games for Arsenal’s Under-18 team and one game for their Under-21 team.

There was never going to be an easy road ahead for League One Bolton. Southwood knew this because he took too long on goal kicks and other plays from the start.

Gabriel Jesus touched Josh Sheehan in the Arsenal area, which led to a mild penalty call. The Trotters made sure to have a lot of players in the box on corners.

Even though Arsenal made eight changes, they were still too strong. Jesus tried a kick over the head, but it went wide, and Sterling shot from far away.

Those efforts came between Declan Rice’s and Nwaneri’s goals before halftime. Scott Arfield got the ball outside the box. When he shook, the ball hit his shoes and went to Rice, who put it in the bottom right corner.

That came after Nwaneri scored from close range after Sterling crossed the ball. Bolton went into the second half down two goals and had nothing to lose. They moved forward, but there were breaks between them.

After 49 minutes, Nwaneri scored his second goal, which slowly let the floodgates open. The away team got one back when John McAtee hit a quick through ball that Collins finished. 

When Sterling scored from Bukayo Saka’s saved shot, though, the attention turned to which other players would get a chance to score.

By the end of the night, substitute Havertz also got one. Without a doubt, the kids are fine.