Mikel Arteta sent clear message by one Arsenal star who really just kickstarted his season vs Bolton

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There were plenty of top performers on show for Arsenal during their 5-1 EFL Cup victory against Bolton Wanderers.

Mikel Arteta will be delighted to have seen his team win in the style they did against Bolton, with plenty of talking points coming from the fixture.

The manager handed senior debuts to six players, with 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri stealing the headlines.

Nwaneri scored twice on his full senior debut for Arsenal, being one of the standout performers on the night for his boyhood club.

• READ MORE: Five things Mikel Arteta learned as Arsenal demolished Bolton in EFL Cup, one will give him nightmares

Declan Rice was at his best for Arsenal against Bolton

Joining Nwaneri on the scoresheet was Kai Havertz, Raheem Sterling and Declan Rice, with the latter being another impressive performer.

Some might have been shocked to see Rice start against Bolton, with the Englishman being integral to Arteta’s favoured XI and could have been rested.

Instead, the midfielder shone against the League One side, scoring, assisting and putting on an all-round stellar display.

The numbers only emphasise how good Rice was in midfield on the night at the Emirates, as the 25-year-old ran the show in the final third.

While fans became accustomed to seeing the former West Ham captain thrive in attack last season, it meant a lot more on Wednesday night to see Rice in form in the central areas.

Rice needed a strong performance

After a phenomenal start to life at Arsenal following his 2023 transfer, Rice’s performances have dipped slightly in 2024/25.

There are several reasons for this, with the most prominent being his lack of suitability to play on the left side of central midfield.

• READ MORE: Arsenal player ratings vs Bolton, Ethan Nwaneri 9/10 as another Hale Ender also catches the eye

As a result of his lacklustre start to the campaign, it was refreshing to see the midfielder back to his brilliant best against Bolton, showing that he can be what Arsenal have been missing.

Arteta has seen his side lose a spark in attack due to the absence of skipper Martin Odegaard, with Rice’s display in the EFL Cup suggesting that when at his best, he can be that figure for the Gunners in midfield.

Four key passes, a goal and assist saw Rice flex his attacking strengths, something that could prompt the manager to better utilise the Englishman going forward.