In need of a goal against Norwich City in the League Cup, Arsene Wenger sent 18-year-old striker Eddie Nketiah on for his Arsenal debut. It took him mere seconds to finish off a set piece and force extra time.
Eddie Nketiah becomes first Arsenal player born after Arsene Wenger was hired to score for the club
The 18-year-old striker scored just seconds after entering the Gunners’ League Cup match.
Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images
In scoring, Nketiah reached an amazing benchmark: He’s the first player to score for Arsenal born after Arsene Wenger was hired on Sept. 22, 1996.
A couple of other young Arsenal goalscorers are close, but not quite young enough. Hector Bellerin was born in March of 1995, Serge Gnabry in July of 1995, Rob Holding in September 1995, and Alex Iwobi in May of 1996. But Nketiah has skipped a slightly older generation — he gets this distinction even though he was born on May 20, 1999, well after Wenger’s appointment. He’s probably too young to remember the peak of Thierry Henry’s career.
Nketiah went on to score a second as well, rising above Norwich’s defenders to head in a corner, giving Arsenal a 2-1 lead in extra time.
Nketiah has already starred for England at Under-18 and Under-19 level, where he has more goals than appearances — like he does for Arsenal. Get on his bandwagon now before it gets too full.
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