Arsenal may be on the verge of handing a surprise debut to 16-year-old goalkeeper Jack Porter in their upcoming Carabao Cup clash against Bolton Wanderers due to growing concerns over David Raya’s fitness.
The Gunners head into Wednesday night’s third-round tie following a thrilling 2-2 draw with Premier League champions Manchester City. Mikel Arteta’s side faced a tough battle, especially after they reduced themselves to ten men for the second half, leading to a series of selection challenges.
Adding to their woes, Arsenal captain Martin Ødegaard will miss an extended period after he suffered ankle ligament damage while on international duty. Leandro Trossard will also miss the match due to a suspension from his red card during the City game. Now, questions arise regarding Raya’s availability.
Scouts spotted the 29-year-old goalkeeper limping and wearing a knee bandage after Sunday’s match. With summer signing Neto cup-tied for the Carabao Cup, Porter could find himself unexpectedly thrust into action midweek.
While reports indicate that Raya’s injury isn’t serious, Arsenal is likely to rest their first-choice keeper against Bolton after he received treatment during the match against City. Compounding the situation, Tommy Setford, the club’s third-choice goalkeeper who joined from Ajax this summer, is also unavailable due to injury, paving the way for the young Porter.
Porter, who only turned 16 in July, has had limited experience, featuring in just a handful of matches for Arsenal’s Under-18 side and making only one appearance for the Under-21 team. However, a senior debut in the Carabao Cup would be a remarkable milestone in his young career.
The promising goalkeeper expressed his excitement on social media after signing a scholarship with Arsenal in July, stating: “Dream come true, delighted to sign for this amazing football club with such great history. I would like to thank everyone who’s supported me throughout the years. Hard work carries on.”
Though it appears unlikely that Raya will play in the cup match, he is expected to return to action for the weekend fixture against Premier League strugglers Leicester City. Following that, Arsenal will face French giants Paris Saint-Germain in their second Champions League match at the Emirates before heading to Southampton in their last outing prior to the next international break in early October.
As Arsenal navigates this challenging period, all eyes will be on Porter, who is ready to make his mark if the team calls upon him.
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