Gabriel Jesus scored his first goal in 274 days, which sent Arsenal to the playoffs.

But Ethan Nwaneri, the Gunners’ teenage star and growing star of the Carabao Cup, stood out more than the Brazilian.The 17-year-old showed how good he is by curling home a beauty in the first half. This came after he scored two goals against Bolton in the third round.

Just before the game finished, he left the field to a standing ovation from the fans from the other team. He had been dangerously close to scoring a few more goals.

People who like Nwaneri will want to see him more if he makes it all the way, even though Mikel Arteta might not put this race first.

The Emirates manager’s evening was mostly perfect, with the only bad thing being that his team didn’t score more goals.

Preston has been hard to beat since Paul Heckingbottom took over early in the season, even though they had only won three of their previous twelve games.

 

Ethan Nwaneri was the star as Arsenal beat PrestonCredit: AFP

 

The 17-year-old scored a screamer in the first halfCredit: PA

Gabriel Jesus ended a 25-game goal drought

They have also performed well in this competition, eliminating Championship heavyweights Sunderland and then defeating Fulham in a thrilling penalty shootout to win the Premier League.

 

However, Arteta’s team, which made eight changes from the squad that drew with Liverpool on Sunday, was too strong for them.

The Gunners took the lead immediately when Nwaneri, who was making just his second start, blew a good early opportunity.

Liam Lindsay nodded over a cross from Sam Greenwood at the opposite end, but that was the most the home team could do.

 

Gabriel Martinelli swung a free-kick from the left halfway through the first half, and Jakub Kiwior knocked it back into the danger area.

In an instant, Jesus, who was hiding at the near post, volleyed it past Freddie Woodman.

Kai Havertz scored with a bullet header after coming off the bench in the second halfCredit: Getty

 

Tommy Setford kept a clean sheet on his Arsenal debut

The victory over Nottingham Forest in late January was the last time the Brazilian scored, so it was long overdue.

The former Manchester City player needed the confidence boost, and nine minutes later, he set up Nwaneri for the second goal.

To be fair, though, the child was the main focus as he handled it well and curled up a masterpiece from the box’s edge.

Woodman has lived here long enough to know that you don’t preserve those, therefore he never moved.

 

Following Nwaneri’s two goals against Bolton in the previous round, Arteta declared that “the boy is ready” and that few would argue with him going forward.

You can only assume that these are the first of many goals he will score in his first two Arsenal starts, making him the youngest player in history to do it.

North End was let down if they had believed the visitors would calm down after the break.

Teen superstar Nwaneri impressed for Arsenal

At halftime, Arteta substituted Mikel Merino and Kai Havertz because he obviously thought there were still goals to be scored.

And shortly before the hour, the German hammered in a header from Kiwior’s cross to seal the match.

Woodman made a triple save to keep them at bay, and two goals were also disallowed, so it was a matter of how many from that point on.

Nwaneri, meantime, made another audacious attempt that was successful.

Perhaps it was fitting that Ayden Heaven, another youngster, took his place ten minutes later because the child had made life miserable for North End.