SETTABLOID

Arsenal eased through to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup as they completed a free-scoring victory against Bolton. A chance for some youth stars to shine and summer signings to star, Mikel Arteta will have enjoyed this less stressful Gunners clash.

Declan Rice gave the Gunners the lead with a great strike, capitalising on some loose Bolton possession in their own defensive third from outside the box. Ethan Nwaneri then got the goal that everyone wanted, tapping in to complete Raheem Sterling’s first assist of his Arsenal career – further goals from Nwaneri, Sterling and Havertz completed the comfortable rainy night in north London.

A really positive night in every sense, the result, the performance. We gave minutes as well to our senior players and they really showed a lot of quality tonight. And on top of that, as you said, we gave the opportunity to quite a lot of academy players, they responded really well and it’s just so fulfilling to see their faces, their reaction, how much it means to them. So, great night.

Well, we told him yesterday and he was over the moon straight away. 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. But I think he reacted really well, he was really composed yesterday in training and today as well. His teammates really helped him as well on that. What an experience and what a way to break a record.

Arsenal cruised into the Carabao Cup fourth round with a 5-1 win over Bolton. The Gunners had a slightly slow start to the game and could have been punished when Scott Arfield blasted over a presentable chance from close range.

They soon found themselves in front though when Declan Rice seized on an error on the edge of the box from Arfield before curling home. From that point on Arsenal were in control and extended their lead just before the break. There could not have been a more popular scorer than Ethan Nwaneri on his first start for the club.

Minutes after the break Nwaneri then added his second and Arsenal’s third as the night continued to get better and better for Arsenal. A counter attacking goal from Aaron Collins for the visitors threatened to spoil the party atmosphere but it was not long until Raheem Sterling poked in from a yard out to restore the Gunners’ three-goal advantage.

The former Sunderland striker showered Gabriel Jesus with praise after the Brazilian international’s work in Havertz’s goal on the night, with the Arsenal striker beating two Bolton defenders and losing his boot in the process.

Signed for £45m in 2022, Jesus has endured another slow start to the season with Havertz once again viewed by Arteta as the main man in the attack, yet despite not scoring again, the former Manchester City man had bright moments against Bolton, and arguably the slickest piece of action of the night.

Bridges said on the commentary: “There’s Brazillian brilliance from Jesus on that right-hand side, he’s got no right to win it. He loses his football boot but he plays the pass, and then it’s the man who’s been magnificent tonight, Sterling.

Arsenal hosted Bolton Wanderers in the Third Round of the Carabao Cup and as predicted, the team had a very good blend of youthful exuberance and experienced level heads.

The Gunners grabbed the lead through a Declan Rice strike and doubled their money when Ethan Nwaneri, playing his full Arsenal debut, latched onto a drilled cut back from Raheem Sterling. After the break, Nwaneri doubled his money when he transitioned possession from Rice to side-foot the ball past the hapless goalie. Bolton hit Arsenal on the break to reduce the deficit through Aaron Collins, but Sterling opened his Arsenal account with the fourth after some sumptuous attacking play from Bukayo Saka. Kai Havertz came on as a substitute and provided the icing on a well-baked cake with a fifth goal.

Mikel Arteta’s season gets more complicated by the week as Arsenal start their Carabao Cup journey on Wednesday. Hosting League One outfit Bolton, the game looked the ideal chance on paper to rest and rotate.

That now appears an unlikely privilege for Arteta as he balances injuries and availability with a schedule starting to pick up in intensity. After gruelling back-to-back-to-back away match at Tottenham, Atalanta, and Manchester City, the Arsenal squad has been decimated.

Both through injury and suspension over a tough month for the Gunners, Arteta now doesn’t have as many options as he would like for domestic cup action. Not only will Leandro Trossard be out as he serves a one-match ban for picking up two yellow cards on Sunday at the Etihad Stadium, a host of his teammates could join him on the sidelines.

Mikel Merino, Oleksandr Zinchenko, and Takehiro Tomiyasu are all ruled out with ongoing fitness problems. Captain Martin Odegaard is also facing an extended period out of the side with Arteta not expecting him back until late October at the earliest.

Bolton centre-back Chris Forino has insisted that Arsenal star William Saliba is everything a modern defender needs to be and is at the game’s pinnacle.

Saliba has emerged as one of the top centre-backs in the world and was at the heart of the Arsenal team that had the meanest defence in the Premier League last season.

His partnership with Gabriel has turned Arsenal into Premier League title challengers and the Frenchman himself believes he is on the right track in his career.

Saliba believes he needs to win trophies to be considered the best in the world but he has admirers across the game who believe he is one of the best in the business when it comes to centre-backs.

Forino, who is set to be on the Bolton team tonight to face Arsenal at the Emirates, is a big fan of Saliba and what he has done at the Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal take on Bolton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup as they look to return to winning ways following their draw with Manchester City and Mikel Arteta has injury concerns

Fresh from earning a hard-fought draw over Manchester City, Arsenal are back in action on Wednesday evening in search of a win.

Following consecutive stalements, the Gunners will hope to defeat Bolton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup third round as they compete for silverware this term. Mikel Arteta may attempt some rotation but has already conceded his team’s injury issues will limit his ability to do so.

Arsenal are back in action this evening when they take on Bolton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup third round.

After holding Manchester City to a 2-2 draw in the Premier League on Sunday, the Gunners can go into tonight’s game with the opportunity to rest a number of key players.

“It’s a great opportunity for any player to show what they are doing in the games if they didn’t get the chance to play yet,” Arteta said when asked about youngsters being handed a chance.

“To transform what they’ve been doing in training and give us the right reason on the pitch.”