Raheem Sterling Nets First Arsenal Goal
Raheem Sterling marked his first goal for Arsenal in a 5-1 win against Bolton in the League Cup. The 29-year-old winger, who joined Arsenal from Chelsea on transfer deadline day, made his debut in style. His second-half goal in this third-round match at the Emirates Stadium gave fans hope for his career revival after a tough two years at Chelsea.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta was pleased with Sterling’s performance. “He was great. He’s starting to show what he can do. Physically, he still needs to reach our level, but this was a massive step,” Arteta said.
Arsenal’s Youngest Ever Starter: Jack Porter
The game also made history for Arsenal as Jack Porter became the youngest player to ever start for the club. At just 16 years and 72 days old, Porter replaced the injured David Raya as Arsenal’s goalkeeper. This record had been held by Cesc Fabregas, who was 16 years and 177 days when he played for Arsenal in 2003.
Porter’s debut performance earned him praise from Arteta. “Jack has been with us since pre-season. He reacted really well and stayed composed. What an experience for him,” Arteta added.
Porter is Arsenal’s second youngest player overall, behind Ethan Nwaneri, who was just 15 when he made his debut in 2022.
Arsenal’s Dominant Performance
Arsenal took control of the match early. Declan Rice opened the scoring with a powerful shot from the edge of the area in the 16th minute. This was Rice’s first goal of the season. Seventeen-year-old Ethan Nwaneri doubled the lead in the 37th minute, scoring his first goal for the club. He added a second just after halftime, putting Arsenal up 3-0.
Bolton managed to pull one back in the 53rd minute when Aaron Collins skillfully rounded Porter and finished the move. However, Sterling responded in the 64th minute, scoring Arsenal’s fourth goal after a Bolton goalkeeper error. Kai Havertz completed the rout in the 78th minute with a close-range goal, sealing Arsenal’s 5-1 victory.
Arsenal’s next League Cup match will be against Championship side Preston in the last 16. The fourth round also features a big clash between Tottenham and Manchester City.
Liverpool’s 5-1 Victory Over West Ham
Meanwhile, Liverpool cruised into the League Cup last 16 with a comfortable 5-1 win against West Ham. Diogo Jota and Cody Gakpo each scored twice as Liverpool dominated the match at Anfield.
West Ham took an early lead in the 21st minute with a comical own goal by Liverpool defender Jarell Quansah, who deflected a mis-hit clearance by Kostas Tsimikas into the net. But Liverpool quickly responded as Jota out-jumped West Ham’s goalkeeper to head in an equalizer just four minutes later.
Jota scored again in the 49th minute after a clever one-two with Curtis Jones, firing past Lukasz Fabianski to give Liverpool a 2-1 lead.
Salah and Gakpo Finish Off West Ham
Mohamed Salah came off the bench to score Liverpool’s third goal in the 74th minute. The Egyptian forward capitalized on a rebound from an Alexis Mac Allister shot. West Ham’s day got worse when Edson Alvarez was sent off for a second yellow card after a reckless challenge on Salah.
Gakpo added to West Ham’s misery by scoring twice late in the game. His first goal came in the 90th minute, a powerful shot from 18 yards out. Moments later, Gakpo’s deflected effort found the back of the net, sealing a dominant win for Liverpool.
Troubled Times for West Ham
West Ham’s manager Julen Lopetegui is under pressure after another disappointing performance. With only one win from five league games, Lopetegui is struggling to turn things around. After the defeat, Lopetegui expressed his frustration. “We don’t deserve this score. We did a lot of good things, but they scored an offside goal. I’m sorry for our fans,” he said.
Despite Lopetegui’s concerns, Liverpool manager Arne Slot was satisfied with his team’s performance. “Since I’ve been here, it’s never been easy, although sometimes the result looks different,” Slot remarked.
What’s Next for Liverpool and Arsenal?
Liverpool will face Brighton in the next round as they continue their bid to defend the League Cup. Meanwhile, Manchester United will take on Leicester, and Chelsea will await the winner of the AFC Wimbledon vs. Newcastle match, which was postponed due to flooding.
Both Arsenal and Liverpool will hope to carry their League Cup momentum into their upcoming Premier League fixtures, as both teams aim to challenge for silverware this season.
Conclusion
Raheem Sterling’s first goal for Arsenal and Jack Porter’s historic debut made headlines in a thrilling 5-1 victory over Bolton. Meanwhile, Liverpool dominated West Ham, piling pressure on their manager Lopetegui. Both teams have advanced to the last 16 of the League Cup, with exciting matchups ahead in the next round. Fans can look forward to more thrilling performances as the competition progresses. Stay updated with the latest from IPL365.
