Jack Porter has become the youngest player ever to start an Arsenal match after being named in our line-up for tonight’s Carabao Cup clash against Bolton Wanderers.

The England Under-17 goalkeeper is just 16 years and 72 days old, overtaking previous record holder Cesc Fabregas, who was 16 years and 177 days old when he started in a League Cup match against Rotherham United in October 2003.

Jack becomes the second youngest player to ever play for our first team, behind only Ethan Nwaneri. In September 2022, aged 15 years and 181 days, he broke the Premier League record when he came on as a substitute in the closing stages of the game against Brentford.

However, Jack now becomes our youngest starter and also our youngest goalkeeper, beating Malcolm Webster, who was 18 years and 308 days old when he made his first of six appearances for us in 1969, replacing Bob Wilson.

Jack joined the club in 2020 and made four appearances for Jack Wilshere’s academy in the U18 Premier League last season before signing a scholarship in the summer.

He has been capped by England at under-16 level, helping the Young Lions to their Football Federations Cup winning campaign last season, conceding just one goal in three games in Spain. He then moved up to under-17 level, making his debut at that level against Germany last month.

Last week he was called up to the first team squad for the Champions League match against Atalanta on Thursday. He was already part of the away squad for the North London derby against Tottenham Hotspur and the match against Manchester City on Sunday.