Arsene Wenger admits he can't believe Chelsea showed Eddie Nketiah the door following his heroics in the Carabao Cup.

The starlet came off the bench to spare Arsenal's blushes against Norwich as his two-goal blast fired them into the quarter-finals.

Nketiah came through the ranks at Stamford Bridge but was released in 2015 - a move that prompted Arsenal to pounce.

And the 18-year-old showed his old club what they are missing with a brace to seal the Gunners' spot in the last eight.

Wenger said: "I don’t know why Chelsea decided to let him go. You see that more and more these days. Young people going from one club to another.

Nketiah scores against Norwich to make it 1-1 (
Image:
Getty)

"I felt I was happy for him and the team. We lacked ideas and clear-cut chances. I was impressed by Norwich in defence.

"I know that he can score goals and that he has character. He is not afraid. He can give and go, and once a player has that in his game, they have a chance."

But who is the young striker who has made such an impact? Football.London have taken a look.

Edward Nketiah celebrates scoring the first Arsenal goal (
Image:
Getty Images Europe)

The Chelsea years

Nketiah started out with London rivals Chelsea progressing through the ranks as a scholar.

He was let go by the Blues two years ago before Arsenal swooped to sign him.

The Gunners invited the young striker in for a trial and within a week he had been signed up by the Gunners on scholarship forms.

Eddie Nketiah wields away in celebration after the first goal (
Image:
Shaun Botterill)

A superb start to life in north London

Having signed for Arsenal - the club he supported as a boy - Nketiah quickly established himself in the Under-18s side.

He was soon finding the net on a regular basis, catching the eye of everyone behind the scenes at London Colney.

Nketiah ended the 2015/16 season as the top scorer for the U18s, he scored 24 goals in 28 appearances.

Ed Nketiah slots home past the Norwich keeper (
Image:
Action Images via Reuters)

Making the step up

Nketiah’s impressive form for the U18s saw him promoted to the U23s set up for the 2016/17 campaign.

He scored more than 20 goals throughout the season at both levels - earning himself a spot on the plane for Arsenal's pre-season tour of Australia and China, where he featured against the likes of Sydney FC, Chelsea and Bayern Munich.

Timm Klose of Norwich City and Francis Coquelin of Arsenal clash (
Image:
Shaun Botterill)

A first professional contract

Nketiah’s stunning goalscoring form this season saw him rewarded with a first professional contract.

He signed it in September 2016 - committing his long-term future to Arsenal.

He said: “I achieved the contract through working hard and trying to keep improving, and as a professional that’s something that I’m determined to keep doing because it takes me a step closer to the first team and I know how high the standards are.”

What's next?

Nketiah has been training with the first-team on a fairly regular basis this season has progressed.

Now he's got two senior goals to his credit just after coming on against Norwich.

Arsene Wenger will continue to allow him to mix with the senior players at the club - but a loan move, possibly as early as next season, looks a certainty as Arsenal plot the next stage of his development.