Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta picked promising tri-national goalkeeper Khari Ranson as the 21st or extra player for the 4-0 win over Wigan Athletic in an FA Cup clash at the Emirates Stadium on Sunday evening. 

The Gunners advanced to the fifth round of the FA Cup for the first time in six years, courtesy of strikes from Noni Madueke, Gabriel Martinelli and Gabriel Jesus, in addition to an own goal by Jack Hunt.

Remarkably, all four goals were scored within a devastating 16-minute spell in the first half.

According to Arsenal youth team guru Jeorge Bird, Khari Ranson, 18, warmed up with Kepa Arrizabalaga and Tommy Setford at the Emirates Stadium turf ahead of kickoff. 

While Arrizabalaga was named in the starting line-up, Setford took his place on the bench, with Ranson designated as third-choice goalkeeper, a decision that ultimately saw him omitted from the matchday squad.

The 2007-born shot-stopper would have drafted into the matchday squad if either Arrizabalaga or Setford had picked up an injury during the pre-match warm-up.

It marked the third time that Ranson has been chosen as the third choice goalkeeper for the first team, though he has yet to receive an official call-up for a competitive fixture. 

Born in London, Ranson is an England U19 international but also qualifies to represent the national teams of Nigeria and Ghana through his father and mother respectively. 

The English-Ghanaian-Nigerian goalkeeper has been on the books of Arsenal since U10 level, rising through the ranks to sign his first professional contract in July 2025.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel