Arsenal triple £30m blow could force Mikel Arteta to field unknown 16 y/o against Bolton Wanderers

Arsenal could be forced to turn to 16-year-old goalkeeper Jack Porter against Bolton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup tonight as Mikel Arteta managed a triple team news blow this week.

The Gunners welcome the League One outfit to the Emirates Stadium tonight in what is the two sides' first meeting since a Premier League clash in February 2012. Arsenal are set to hand a first team debut to youngster Porter between the sticks.

David Raya remains first choice for the London outfit but is nursing an injury picked up in the fiery 2-2 draw against Manchester City last weekend. The former Brentford man, who made his loan switch to Arsenal permanent for £30 million this summer, completed the game on Sunday but could be seen limping and wearing a bandage on his knee after the match.

Jack Porter in line for Arsenal debut

Raya has started all six games of Arsenal's season so far across all competitions and Arteta said: "Let’s see how they are today. We’ll try to make a call on that if we believe that’s a possibility.”

Many sides would naturally turn to give their second-choice goalkeeper minutes in the Carabao Cup but that is not a possibility for Arteta. Neto was signed on loan from Bournemouth on Deadline Day but had already played for the Cherries in the tournament so is cup-tied and unable to feature.

Next in the pecking order is 18-year-old England youth star Tommy Setford, but the teenager has a hip injury. That could force Arteta to turn to 16-year-old Porter, who plays for the Gunners' under-18 side.

Mikel Arteta: ‘Wait and see’

Arteta said: “We have to wait and see what the situation is going to be. But that’s why we train with four, sometimes five goalkeepers - we want them all around.

“They have to be prepared and these things happen. Whoever plays, for sure he will be prepared.”

Porter has travelled with the first team squad to Atalanta and Manchester City in recent weeks, warming up with Neto and Raya but has never made an appearance more senior than under-21 level. The player only signed a scholarship with Arsenal in the summer and cannot sign a professional contract until he turns 17 in July 2025.