Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta makes Charlie Patino confession as Eddie Nketiah bags hat-trick

In pictures: Arsenal v Sunderland

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Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta couldn’t hide his pride in seeing both Charlie Patino and Eddie Nketiah shine on the big stage in their 5-1 win over Sunderland. The Black Cats were the only team outside of the Premier League left in the Carabao Cup.

The favourable draw for Arsenal led to some suggestions that more youngsters would be given a chance by Arteta, but the Gunners boss named a relatively strong starting line-up.

Regulars such as Martin Odegaard and Emile Smith Rowe started but it was Eddie Nketiah who continued his hot streak in the Carabao Cup to open the scoring.

Nicolas Pepe sound doubled Arsenal’s lead before Sunderland pulled one back before the break.

Arteta clearly wanted things to change in the second half and more emphasis was put on those out wide to stretch Sunderland’s defence.

Pepe and Nuno Tavares in particular enjoyed plenty of freedom down their respective sides and the latter set Nketiah up with a fizzing cross early in the second half.

Just 10 minutes later and the 22-year-old had completed his hat-trick in emphatic fashion after cutely tucking the ball away after being played in by Pepe.

With Arsenal’s win all wrapped up, Arteta decided give the Arsenal crowd what they wanted by bringing on young Patino with just 10 minutes remaining.

He had little time to make an impact, but that he did in stoppage time with a debut goal to remember.

There has been plenty of excitement surrounding Patino’s development and Arteta accepts that he’s hopeful of more to come from the 18-year-old.

“He has a player who has a lot of personality,” Arteta said.

“I’m delighted for him because he’s a kid that we like very much.”

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