Ethan Nwaneri was over the moon after earning his first start with two goals in Wednesday’s 5-1 win over Bolton.

Our Hale End graduate scored twice to help us into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup.

“I’m absolutely thrilled,” he said. “I’m so happy to have helped the team get through to the next round and I’m ready for what’s to come.”

Supporters at the Emirates Stadium were so impressed by what they saw that they started signing: “Ethan Nwaneri, he’s one of us.”

“It’s a great feeling when the fans of the club you love, the club you grew up with, chant that,” he said. “So yeah, it’s a good feeling.

“It’s a surreal feeling. It’s a feeling I’ve been wanting to feel for almost 16 years of my life, so to actually feel it is crazy… I just want more of it.

“All these players that I’ve played with since I was 9 and now we’re on the big field together, it’s a crazy feeling. You know, it’s good.”

Ethan has been involved with the first team regularly in recent weeks, playing in the North London derby and travelling to our big game against Manchester City.

“It was tough,” he said. “It was intense, but I think it definitely helped me as a player, helped me see what it’s like, how they prepare. I think I added that to my game, so it was definitely good to be around those players.

“I think 100% there’s a perfect balance where they’re on me and telling me what to do, but I definitely think they’re also putting their arm around me, so I think it’s a good balance.”