Paul Merson shocked by ‘unbelievable story’ involving Arsenal star younger than Ethan Nwaneri

Add as preferred source on Google

Arsenal’s 5-1 win over Bolton in the League Cup on Wednesday night was all about their young guns being rewarded for their hard work.

Mikel Arteta named a few senior stars amongst the teenage superstars, with Jorginho donning the captain’s armband and Declan Rice opening the scoring.

From Ethan Nwaneri to Jack Porter, some new faces have emerged onto the Arsenal scene and fans got to see a glimpse of their future.

This is a credit to the club’s Hale-End academy and also to manager Arteta for being so brave in giving them a shot on such a big stage.

But one story emerging from Arsenal’s thumping win over Bolton has left Paul Merson shocked and amazed at the same time.

You hear about players at the age of 16, 17 and 18 handed starts in midfield, up front or in defence, which in itself is remarkable, but it happens from time to time.

But for a 16-year-old to make his debut and first start as a goalkeeper is an ‘unbelievable story’, according to Merson.

The former double-winner shared that his young kid is coming through at Chelsea, so he sees the academy players now and what they are like.

Merson added ‘I can’t express how talented this kid (Porter) must be’ to be playing in goal for Arsenal at such a young age and that it’s ‘very rare’ for that position, as he told Sky Sports News (26/09/24 at 10:05 am).

Porter entered the record books on two occasions against Bolton. At 16 years and 72 days, he is the youngest-ever player to start a competitive game for Arsenal and the youngest-ever goalkeeper to play in the EFL Cup.

With Arsenal being drawn up against Championship side Preston North End for the next round, you wonder if Porter will be handed another opportunity.

Jack Porter becomes Arsenal’s youngest-ever starting goalkeeper in League Cup against Bolton

“This is an unbelievable story, believe me, an unbelievable story,” said Merson. “My little boy is in the academy at Chelsea. I see the academy stuff now. That is phenomenal.

“For that kid, to get into Arsenal, who are like a Rolls-Royce of a football club, a massive football club at 16 and playing goal for Arsenal, I just can’t explain how big that is.

“Goalkeepers usually become better at 25, 26 or 27. The older you get. This kid to be in there at 16, honestly, fair play to him. He takes a lot of credit for the hard work he has done. Fair play to Arsenal for giving him that belief. That is very rare. I don’t think that happens too often in football. A 16-year-old making his debut for a big, big football club in goal. Wow. Honestly, I can’t express how talented this kid must be to be playing in goal at 16.”

Ethan Nwaneri nets a brace for Arsenal

At 17, Nwaneri wasn’t even the youngest player on the park, which is crazy because, only a few years ago, he was the youngest player in Premier League history at 15.

But whilst Porter was making headlines on one side, down the other end of the pitch, Nwaneri was netting a brace.

READ MORE: Jamie Carragher gives Arsenal’s percentage chance of winning the Premier League after Rodri’s injury for Man City

In the coming years, you can see the attacking midfielder featuring more and more under Arteta.

Bukayo Saka has proven what magic Arsenal’s academy can produce because he is now one of the best players in the Premier League.