Eddie Nketiah scored twice to rescue Arsenal in the Carabao Cup. (AFP/Getty Images)

Arsenal striker Eddie Nketiah was released by Chelsea because he was considered to be too short, according to reports.

The 18-year-old scored his first goals for Arsenal’s senior team on Tuesday evening as his double salvaged a 2-1 victory over Norwich City in the Carabao Cup.

Nketiah also has the honour of being the first player born after Arsene Wenger was appointed as manager to score a goal for Arsenal’s first team.

Nketiah had already made an impressive impact prior to his introduction to Wenger’s side by scoring 24 goals in 35 games for the club’s youth teams last season.

Nketiah initially began his career at Chelsea but was released in 2015. (Getty Images)

Nketiah began his career at Chelsea but was released because of his size in 2015.

Arsenal subsequently handed the striker a trial and after just a week he was signed up as a scholar.

‘I don’t know what happened at Chelsea,’ Wenger said after Nketiah’s double against Norwich.

‘He has scored goals at youth level and sometimes I don’t know why they let him go.

‘I don’t know why. You see that more and more. Young people travel from one club to another. I don’t know.’

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