Although Unai Emery opted for a number of senior players in his League Cup starting XI, it was the kids who really stole the show.
Gabriel Martinelli grabbed his first and then second goals for Arsenal, making him the 8th Brazilian to score for the club.
Reiss Nelson got his first, Joe Willock his fifth while Rob Holding also scored on his return from injury.
The average age of Arsenal’s four goalscorers on the night was 20.25, dragged up by Holding’s ‘advanced’ age of 24.
As such, the atmosphere at the ground, as it tends to be when the kids play well, was much less repressive than it’s been for Premier League game and this was reflected back in the joy seen in many of the photographs from the game.
- Arsenal’s English midfielder Joe Willock celebrates scoring his team’s third goal during the English League Cup third round football match between Arsenal and Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium in London on September 24, 2019. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP)
- Arsenal’s English defender Rob Holding (R) celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the English League Cup third round football match between Arsenal and Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium in London on September 24, 2019. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP)
- LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 24: Rob Holding of Arsenal celebrates scoring his teams second goal of the game with team mates during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Arsenal FC and Nottingham Forrest at Emirates Stadium on September 24, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
- LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 24: Rob Holding of Arsenal celebrates scoring his teams second goal of the game with team mates during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Arsenal FC and Nottingham Forrest at Emirates Stadium on September 24, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
- LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 24: Rob Holding of Arsenal scores the second goal during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Arsenal and Nottingham Forest at Emirates Stadium on September 24, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
- Arsenal’s English defender Rob Holding (L) celebrates scoring his team’s second goal during the English League Cup third round football match between Arsenal and Nottingham Forest at the Emirates Stadium in London on September 24, 2019. (Photo by Ben STANSALL / AFP)
- LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 24: Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal celebrates scoring the fifth goal during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Arsenal and Nottingham Forest at Emirates Stadium on September 24, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
- LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 24: Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal scores the fifth goal during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Arsenal and Nottingham Forest at Emirates Stadium on September 24, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
- LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 24: Mesut Ozil of Arsenal in action during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Arsenal FC and Nottingham Forrest at Emirates Stadium on September 24, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
- LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 24: Medical staff treat Emile Smith Rowe of Arsenal during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Arsenal FC and Nottingham Forrest at Emirates Stadium on September 24, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
- LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 24: Calum Chambers of Arsenal battles for the ball with Jack Robinson of Nottingham Forest during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Arsenal FC and Nottingham Forrest at Emirates Stadium on September 24, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
- LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 24: Rob Holding of Arsenal celebrates scoring his teams second goal of the game with team mate Reiss Nelson during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Arsenal FC and Nottingham Forrest at Emirates Stadium on September 24, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
- LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 24: Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal celebrates scoring the fifth goal during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Arsenal and Nottingham Forest at Emirates Stadium on September 24, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
- LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 24: Joe Willock of Arsenal celebrates scoring his teams third goal of the game with team mate Hector Bellerin during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Arsenal FC and Nottingham Forrest at Emirates Stadium on September 24, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
- LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 24: Joe Willock of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team’s third goal of the game with teammate Hector Bellerin during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Arsenal FC and Nottingham Forrest at Emirates Stadium on September 24, 2019, in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
- LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 24: Calum Chambers of Arsenal shoots at goal during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Arsenal and Nottingham Forest at Emirates Stadium on September 24, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)
- LONDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 24: Gabriel Martinelli of Arsenal celebrates scoring the fifth goal during the Carabao Cup Third Round match between Arsenal and Nottingham Forest at Emirates Stadium on September 24, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images)