A world-class strike from 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri was the highlight of our comfortable win over Preston North End to secure a place in the Carabao Cup quarter-final.
Our academy product picked out the top corner from 20 yards to cap another wonderful display, following up his brace in the previous round.
Gabriel Jesus had earlier given us the lead when he thumped home his first of the season from Jakub Kiwior’s knock down and substitute Kai Havertz headed in a third in the second-half.
It was a comprehensive way to book our place in the last eight, and start a run of four away games in the perfect fashion.
Jesus gives us the lead
Although he made eight changes to the side that started Sunday’s draw with Liverpool, Mikel Arteta named a strong team for our first trip to Preston since an FA Cup third round win in 2017. William Saliba came straight back in after serving his one-match suspension, while Jurrien Timber also started after being taken off in the second half at the weekend.
Our only debutant was 18-year-old summer signing from Ajax, goalkeeper Tommy Setford.
It was a different teenager, 17-year-old Nwaneri, who had our first attempt. On the quarter hour, he was at full stretch to get on the end of Raheem Sterling’s cutback, but scooped his effort over.
After dominating the opening 20 minutes or so, but without testing the home goalkeeper, we took the lead with our first shot on target.
Gabriel Martinelli won a free-kick on the left wing near the byline, which was swung in deep to the far post. Jakub Kiwior was there to head it back into the danger area, where Jesus smashed home from close range.
Electric Ethan
Nwaneri had a good chance to double the advantage soon after the opener but shot tamely at Freddie Woodman when well placed.
He more than made amends with a stunner on the half hour. The Hale End graduate – who netted twice in the last round against Bolton – added to his growing reputation with a cracker from the edge of the area. Receiving the pass from Jesus 20 yards out, he shifted the ball onto his left foot before unleashing an inch-perfect strike into the top corner, leaving Woodman rooted to the spot.
“Ethan Nwaneri, he’s one of our own” belted out the 5,600 travelling Arsenal supporters filling the end behind the opposite goal at Deepdale. They had been in fine voice all evening, and this was certainly a moment to savour from our hugely-talented teenager.
Pace maintained
The manager withdrew two of his starters from Sunday’s game at half-time – Timber was replaced by Thomas Partey while Kai Havertz came on for Mikel Merino.
Havertz didn’t take long to add his name to the scoresheet. Nwaneri sent in a teasing cross that Jesus couldn’t quite get on the end of. The ball was cleared only as far as Kiwior, who fizzed in a cross of his own from the left flank, and Havertz stole in to plant his header firmly past the keeper.
On came Bukayo Saka and Myles Lewis-Skelly as we maintained our intensity. A wonderful run from Sterling through the midfield resulted in a chance for Jesus. His shot was parried back to the arriving Sterling, who was also denied at close range.
Preston cleared an inswinging Jorginho corner off the line before Nwaneri shot over as we hunted the fourth.
Nwaneri – at the heart of so much of our attacking play – clipped the bar on the end of an intricate move, while at the other end, Setford had to be alert to maintain his clean sheet, saving from Jeppe Okkels.
As the game entered the final ten minutes, Arteta introduced another teenager into the action, handing a first-team debut to 18-year-old defender Ayden Heaven. He became the 912th player to represent the Arsenal first team, and yet another from the Hale End production line.
Debutant keeper Setford had to make a couple of late saves to ensure a debut clean sheet, and in the end, we were too strong for the Championship’s 16th-placed side.
What’s next
We’re back in Premier League action for the early kick off away to Newcastle on Saturday, which is followed by another away trip – to Inter Milan – next Wednesday. Our fourth consecutive away game will be at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea, the following weekend.
