Nketiah Hat Trick Fires Arsenal to League Cup Semifinals

Arsenal downed Sunderland to seal a place in the final four of the cup competition.

LONDON (AP) — Even after scoring a hat trick for Arsenal, Eddie Nketiah was momentarily upstaged by another academy graduate. It’s not often a teenager scores on his debut.

Eleven minutes after coming off the bench, Charlie Patino completed a 5-1 victory over Sunderland to send Arsenal into the semifinals of the League Cup on Tuesday.

The stoppage-time goal at Emirates Stadium saw the 18-year-old midfielder prod in a shot after Nicolas Pépé rolled the ball into the penalty area.

A moment to savor for 18-year-old Charlie Patino, who scores mere minutes into his Arsenal debut

(via @ESPNFC) pic.twitter.com/EQlVvZC5Z3

— SI Soccer (@si_soccer) December 21, 2021

Pépé was also Arsenal’s second scorer in the first half after Nketiah netted the opener from close range in the 17th minute against the third-tier side.

Eddie Nketiah scores on the rebound, and Arsenal takes an early lead on Sunderland in their League Cup quarterfinal

(via @ESPNFC) https://t.co/AjsWRhyUtf

— SI Soccer (@si_soccer) December 21, 2021

After Nathan Broadhead pulled one back, Nketiah’s back-heeled flick restored Arsenal’s two-goal advantage four minutes into the second half. Nketiah completed his treble in the 58th minute after getting on the end of Pépé’s cross.

Nketiah loves the Carabao Cup, he grabs his second of the game 🔥 pic.twitter.com/BmDXuNPdH9

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) December 21, 2021

Eddie Nketiah finishes off his hat trick in style! Arsenal is surely headed to the League Cup semifinals after this back-heel beauty

(via @ESPNFC) pic.twitter.com/0H0LGRjPbV

— SI Soccer (@si_soccer) December 21, 2021

It’s another encouraging result for Arsenal, which is fourth in the Premier League as it tries to end a five-season exile from the Champions League.

The League Cup semifinal lineup will be completed Wednesday when Chelsea goes to Brentford, Liverpool plays Leicester and Tottenham hosts West Ham.