While the Carabao Cup is unlikely to have been at the top of Mikel Arteta’s priorities this season, Arsenal’s campaign in the competition could not have gone better so far.
The Gunners have scored eight goals in two games, are now only two ties away from Wembley and Arteta has been able to hand out several debuts to promising youngsters.
Both goalkeeper Tommy Setford, 18, and defender, Ayden Heaven, 18, were given their first-team bows at Deepdale but it was another teenager, Ethan Nwaneri, who stole the show.
The 17-year-old capped a fine performance with a superb first-half goal, curling his effort into the top left-corner and was brimming with confidence and composure throughout.
The academy product, who registered his first senior goals in the 5-1 win over Bolton in the previous round of the EFL Cup also hit the crossbar late on for Arsenal and was deservedly serenaded by the visiting fans when being withdrawn late on.
And on this evidence the chorus for him to start more Premier League games will only get louder.
