In a mesmerizing display of youthful exuberance and raw talent, 17-year-old sensation Ethan Nwaneri stole the show as Arsenal cruised past Preston North End to book their spot in the Carabao Cup quarterfinals. The highly-touted teenager from Enfield was the name on everyone’s lips at Deepdale, overshadowing even the star-studded likes of European Championship winner Jorginho and Champions League victor Kai Havertz in a commanding Arsenal performance.
Nwaneri Shines Brightest Among Arsenal Stars
From the opening whistle, Nwaneri was an irrepressible force, showcasing intelligence, skill, and poise beyond his tender years. The attacking midfielder ran the show for Mikel Arteta’s side, constantly stretching the Preston defense with incisive passing and mesmerizing dribbling. His crowning moment arrived in the form of a stunning long-range strike – his third goal in this season’s Carabao Cup – that left the Preston keeper rooted to the spot and the Arsenal fans chanting his name in adoration.
“One of our own,”
the Arsenal faithful sang of their teenage hero – and on this evidence, Nwaneri looks destined to etch his name into Gunners folklore for years to come.
Arsenal’s Quality Proves Too Much for Plucky Preston
While Nwaneri rightly grabbed the headlines, this was a polished team performance from an Arsenal side making light work of the 56-place gap between the clubs in the football pyramid. Brazilian forward Gabriel Martinelli was a constant menace, winning the free-kick from which Gabriel Jesus opened the scoring, while Polish defender Jakub Kiwior provided two assists on an impressive full debut.
For Championship outfit Preston, there was no disgrace in defeat to illustrious opposition, even if the margin of victory could have been even greater had Arsenal been more ruthless. Manager Paul Heckingbottom made six changes to the side that drew at Plymouth on Saturday, perhaps with one eye on the league campaign, but could only watch as Arsenal’s superior quality and depth gradually took its toll.
Setford Untroubled as Arsenal March On
At the other end, Arsenal handed a debut to 18-year-old goalkeeper Tommy Setford, signed from Ajax in the summer. In truth, though, the youngster will rarely have a more comfortable night, with Preston failing to register a shot on target until the 80th minute. By then, the game was long since over as a contest.
As the final whistle sounded on a 3-0 Arsenal win, Nwaneri left the field to a standing ovation, substituted late on by a player called Heavenly Moses. On this evidence, the teenage prodigy looks set to lead Arsenal to the promised land, not just in this competition but for many years to come. Remember the name: Ethan Nwaneri has arrived on the big stage – and he looks right at home already.
