What Declan Rice did after Ethan Nwaneri Arsenal goal as next step for Jack Porter revealed

Youngsters get their chance to shine

Before a ball had even been kicked, records had been broken. Jack Porter made history by becoming the youngest player ever to start a game for Arsenal.

The 16-year-old – born after the last time Tottenham won a trophy – had had barely any time to prepare for his big night where the world was watching. “We told him yesterday and he was over the moon straight away,” Mikel Arteta revealed after the game. “I think he spoke to his family and they weren’t prepared for that. It’s a big step, it’s a big occasion for them and I think they were nervous about it.”

Porter must have been nervous too, but sensing that he needed their support the Emirates Stadium crowd seemed to rise to his aide. The 16-year-old’s first touch was greeted with rapturous applause that seemed to enable Porter to grow into his full 6ft 3in frame. His teammates looked to carry him through the night too, with Jorginho giving him specific instructions on where to play goal kicks.

All things considered, Porter came through the experience well. He would have been desperate to keep a clean sheet, but the teenager dealt superbly with Bolton’s attempts at aerial bombardment. He coped with the slippery conditions and played a couple of good passes out from the back. He was one of four debutants for Arsenal along with Josh Nichols, Maldini Kacurri and Ismeal Kabia on a great night for the Gunners academy.

Many will be asking what’s next for the talented youngsters. If Per Mertesacker’s pre-match comments are anything to go by Arsenal academy won’t be allowing anyone’s feet to get too far off the ground.

“We are now in a situation where in the academy we are obviously focussed on holistic development, they are not just playing football, they are doing so much more,” he said. “I think Jack Porter for example should have been doing his education today, so he needs to catch up on that! We are trying to build up the best people, because that’s the only way you’re going to be the best player.”

Surely though, they’ll be allowed one night to celebrate. It’s an evening that none of them will forget in a hurry.

Nwaneri grabs his chance

Of course, Ethan Nwaneri could be considered something of a veteran in comparison to his Hale End teammates. The 17-year-old had made three appearances off the bench by the time Wednesday night came about, but this was his first start.

The talented midfielder has been on Mikel Arteta’s radar since he was 12 years old but the hype at such a young age is not always a guarantee of success. Even when given the most perfect of opportunities to shine, youngsters can freeze on the big stage.

There was no chance of that for Nwaneri though. From the off the 17-year-old looked as though he belonged in a midfield alongside experienced internationals like Declan Rice and Jorginho.

His first goal was the product of a brave forward run, and his celebration was perhaps the only time where he looked his age as he let slip an ecstatic fist bump. Arguably more pleased for him was Rice who sprinted over with a smile brighter than the Emirates Stadium floodlights.

By the second half any signs of boyishness were gone though, as Nwaneri, when given the opportunity to lay on a goal for one of his teammates opted to go for glory himself. “On the second one I was really happy for him that he scored because I know the reaction of his teammates if he didn’t,” Arteta joked after the game.

Nwaneri now seems a fully fledged member of the first team squad and could arguably be in line for more opportunities with Martin Odegaard out till at least beyond the international break. “I think it’s ahead of what anybody could expect,” Arteta said of his rapid trajectory. “I think since in his journey with the first team, he’s always ahead of what everybody expected and what I expected as well. He deserves that and he’s part of us, so he will have the minutes.”

Sterling stars

As much as the night was about the youngsters, there were a few senior stars looking to grab their moment. Few did more than Raheem Sterling.

The 29-year-old hadn’t quite set the world alight in his limited cameos up to this point, and took a while to get going against Bolton. Once he was eventually up and running we saw why Arteta was so convinced to bring him in.

Sterling’s dribbling was outstanding and he had the end product to match. The England winger could easily have had an assist with a deep ball to Bukayo Saka at the back post before he laid on Nwaneri’s first of the night.

There was little pretty about his goal when it did finally come in the second half, but the finish from one yard out demonstrated Sterling’s ability to be in the right place at the right time that had been honed under Arteta at Manchester City.

“I think he’s getting better and better,” Arteta said of his deadline day signing. “I think physically you can tell that he’s making steps. The moment the game opened up a little bit, you know what he can do, how he can deliver. He was involved in a few goals, so a very positive night for him.”

He will be in with a far better chance of starting against Leicester on Saturday than when he started the game on Wednesday night. Really the 29-year-old could not have asked for much more.