Arsenal record: first time a 16-year-old goalkeeper has started

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Mikel Arteta replaced David Raya with 16-year-old Jack Porter in goal as they host Bolton in the League Cup

Arsenal record: first time a 16-year-old goalkeeper has started

With substitute Aaron Ramsdale leaving for Southampton and a busy fixture list, Mikel Arteta was forced to rotate his team, including in goal, when he hosts Bolton in the last 32 of the English League Cup.

After three top-level games against Tottenham , Atalanta and Manchester City , the Spanish coach replaced David Raya between the posts with Jack Porter, a 16-year-old who makes his debut for the first team and is now directly in the starting eleven.

At just 16 years and 72 days, the Englishman becomes the youngest ever to start for the Gunners , surpassing Cesc Fàbregas’ record of 16 years, 5 months and 24 days. However, Porter is only the second youngest ever to play for Arsenal , given that Ethan Nwaeri came on as a second-half substitute in Brentford – Arsenal (0-3) in September 2022, aged just 15 years, 5 months and 28 days.