A slight left winger often asked to fill in in defence might appear an unusual candidate to be Arsenal’s next breakout star but make no mistake that is what Bukayo Saka is.

It may seem premature to dub any youngster a star of the future on the basis of the Checkatrade Trophy, hardly the top of any manager’s priority list at this stage of the season, but Saka can do no more to prove his worth. Even at a mere 17 years of age, he appears to be inching towards the ceiling of what youth football can offer; his development might soon be as much a matter for Unai Emery as it is Freddie Ljungberg.

Certainly he was the difference-maker on a gruelling night at Forest Green Rovers, where a 3-1 win for Arsenal Under-21s ensured their passage to the knockout stages. Before Saka decisively swung it this game had been a real slog for the young guns.

This was not the sort of night you dream of when you sign your first Arsenal contract; a bitter wind blew through the Cotswolds, the rain drove down with ferocity. Forest Green were not averse to mixing it up with a long ball.

It can be hard to avoid playing to the conditions, as Gedion Zelalem proved with a clumsy late tackle on Isaac Pearce that left the Forest Green man needing treatment. Moments later the hosts would get their revenge when the American youth international collided with giant midfielder Paul Digby.

As the first player born during Arsene Wenger’s reign to be handed a debut by the manager, Zelalem’s place in Arsenal history is secure. His future is far less so and the same could be said for many of the other older names on Ljungberg’s team sheet tonight, which included Cohen Bramall.

Zelalem can justifiably point to a 16-month injury nightmare to explain why he was so off the pace at The New Lawn but the world of youth football can be no less cutthroat than its senior counterpart. After only 45 minutes Ljungberg had seen enough, bringing on the disciplined Charlie Gilmour.

As some of their older team-mates struggled, the youngsters hoping to follow Emile Smith Rowe into the first team shone. Saka’s time will come sooner or later - he already looks an Emery player with his energy, direct running and ability to play across the frontline.

He should have scored in the first half but twice was denied by goalkeeper James Montgomery. However, undeterred, Saka's driving run from halfway saw him beat five Forest Green defenders before being brought down. Joe Willock calmly converted the penalty.

Willock, another Wenger project who has struggled for game time under Emery, soon had his second but once more all the credit should go to Saka, who drove in from the right, taking four defenders out of the game before squaring for the midfielder to make it 2-0.

Saka nearly got the goal he so thoroughly deserved seconds into the second half, a powerful low shot saved by Montgomery before Trae Coyle spurned the rebound.

Arsenal’s profligacy was punished when Dayle Grubb darted through the defence before slotting past Dejan Iliev but still Saka threatened, combining menacingly with Coyle, whose sweet volley was too close to the Forest Green goalkeeper.

The impressive Tyreece John-Jules wrapped up the win in the 85th minute, tapping home Bramall’s deflected cross in the second phase of a counter led by who else: Saka. You suspect we’ll be hearing a lot more from him in the years to come.