After Eddie Nketiah's Carabao Cup heroics, Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger claims: I can't remember anyone ever having as big an impact as that

Arsene Wenger has lauded the fairytale impact of 18-year-old Eddie Nketiah, claiming he has never seen a young player make such an impact on a big game.

The 18-year-old forward netted twice as Arsenal came from behind to beat Norwich in the last-16 of the Carabao Cup on Tuesday. 

Nketiah turned home a corned with his first touch, only 15 seconds after being brought on with five minutes to play at the Emirates. He then headed the winner for Wenger's side early in extra time as they joined the likes of Manchester United and Manchester City in the last eight.

Eddie Nketiah scored twice for Arsenal to inspire a Carabao Cup comeback against Norwich 

Eddie Nketiah scored twice for Arsenal to inspire a Carabao Cup comeback against Norwich 

The teenager latched onto a deflected corner with his first touch of the game on Tuesday

The teenager latched onto a deflected corner with his first touch of the game on Tuesday

After the final whistle, the Arsenal boss said he could not recall a young player announcing himself on the big stage like that.


'I can't remember a young player having such an impact in a game like that. Until he came on we lacked ideas and creativity,' he said. 

'I knew he had quality, but when the team need you and you deliver, that's another quality you don't know about until you go on to the pitch.

'I'm impressed to think that he was not even conceived when I was already here! But it's good as well because life gives chances to young people. Hopefully he'll have a long career at Arsenal.

Nketiah is just the latest young player off the conveyor belt at Arsenal under Wenger.

The No 62 scored with his very first touch of the game before netting a header in extra time

The No 62 scored with his very first touch of the game before netting a header in extra time

Nketiah celebrates with Alex Iwobi, Aaron Ramsey and Chuba Akpon after scoring his second

Nketiah celebrates with Alex Iwobi, Aaron Ramsey and Chuba Akpon after scoring his second

The Frenchman has long used domestic cups to blood players from the club's academy. And after Nketiah's heroics on Tuesday, Wenger reiterated his desire to keep giving prospects the chance to show what they can do.

'We're proud to give chances to young players, it's part of our DNA, and we want to continue to do that.

'I don't know why exactly Chelsea let him go or if he decided to leave, but young players more and more nowadays travel from one club to another. We're happy to have him.'