Ethan Nwaneri impresses as Arsenal beat Preston in Carabao Cup | Carabao Cup

Arsenal had a European Championship winner in Jorginho, Champions League winner Kai Havertz and four-time Premier League champion Raheem Sterling to make life difficult for Preston, but one name roared loudest from the exuberant away game at Deepdale: Ethan Nwaneri. “One of us,” they sang about the 17-year-old from Enfield. A special talent, that’s for sure.

In just his second start for Mikel Arteta’s side, Nwaneri shone among the decorated names as Arsenal progressed to the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup against the Championship side.

The teenager scored a superb goal, his third of the season overall, clipping the crossbar with another thunderous shot and leaving Preston dancing to his music all night. He received an enthusiastic ovation from the Arsenal fans when he was replaced late on by a substitute named Heaven, appropriately nicknamed ‘Heaven’.

“Seventeen and he can come in and do a game like that,” Arteta said, almost managing to contain his excitement as he struggled to keep the teenager’s feet on the ground. “He is a great talent, he has the right attitude, he has the right players and the right context around him and we have to make sure we build him brick by brick but we have some players there.

“He will decide how fast it should go, but I’m really happy with him. There’s so much personality in there. He wants to assert himself, he wants every ball and he wants something to happen. You see his teammates constantly giving him the ball. That’s a great sign.”

Preston were the last team outside the top flight still in the competition, but carrying the flag was not Paul Heckingbottom’s concern. The Preston boss made six changes to the side that drew at Plymouth on Saturday. It wasn’t exactly a tribute to the romance of the cup, although it may have been a reaction to his team blowing a three-goal lead at Home Park. Arsenal had far greater resources to implement sweeping changes and gradually exploited the Championship side’s weaknesses.

Arteta gave Tommy Setford, the 18-year-old goalkeeper signed from Ajax Amsterdam in the summer, his first-team debut but unlike fellow teenager Nwaneri he was a relative spectator. Setford’s first save, a clear stop from Jeppe Okkels, came in the 77th minute.

Preston centre-back Liam Lindsay should have twice troubled the debutant but sent a free header over goal from a Sam Greenwood free-kick and deflected a shot when the striker found him unmarked in the box following a corner. These were opportunities that could not be missed against a dominant, superior opponent.

In the early stages, Arsenal made too much effort in and around Preston’s penalty area. However, Nwaneri was an irrepressible, intelligent force throughout. It was a performance that showed both immense potential and finished product.

The visitors constantly extended the game to encourage Sterling and Gabriel Martinelli to attack their full-backs. The policy paid off when Martinelli was sent flying by Preston right-back Kaine Kesler-Hayden. After the resulting free kick, which the Brazilian fired at the back post, Jakub Kiwior headed it to Gabriel Jesus, who shot it unstoppably past Freddie Woodman. It was the striker’s first goal since January 30th. “It’s been a long time,” admitted Arteta. “I think this will unlock things mentally.”

The Preston keeper routinely parried Nwaneri when Mikel Merino fed the teenager from a cross from Sterling. But Woodman could do nothing about the impressive performance which gave Arsenal the deserved consolation of a two-goal lead. Nwaneri received a pass from Jesus 22 meters from goal, cut inside with his left foot and curled the ball precisely into the top corner, where Woodman was rooted to the spot in the penalty area. It was a finish that does justice to the overall outstanding performance of the England U19 international.

Nwaneri would also have received an assist if Jesus had botched a free header after an inviting cross from the midfielder. It didn’t matter. Seconds later, with Arsenal still playing with the hosts, Kiwior secured his second assist of the night with a great shot which Havertz, who came on as a substitute, headed powerfully into the near post.

Havertz failed to score a second header from a Jorginho corner as he was deflected off the goal line, while Woodman made a fine double save from Jesus and Sterling as Arsenal threatened to fall into disarray. Brad Potts made an excellent goal-line save from Sterling, while Nwaneri hit the crossbar with an angled left-footed shot. “We have a player there,” Arteta reiterated.