Jason Crowe was sent off 33 seconds into his Arsenal debut in 1997 but, him apart, no player can have spent so little time on the pitch here in recent years and generated so much conversation as David Bentley.
His appearance on Saturday lasted little more than five minutes but his name ended up on everyone's lips. Among those singing his praises was the man he idolises and hopes to emulate, Dennis Bergkamp.
By scoring his first senior goal with a wonderful chip over Mark Schwarzer, Bentley not only sealed another comfortable Arsenal win over Middlesbrough but offered a glimpse of the talent that has made him an England youth international and prompted high hopes for him at Highbury. "I believe he's a bit characteristic of Bergkamp," Arsene Wenger said afterwards.
It would be hasty and unhelpful to label Bentley as Bergkamp's natural successor. As Wenger stressed, the 19-year-old needs to mature. He also has to earn a more regular place in the side. Bentley has not appeared in the Premiership and was disappointing on a rare start against Boro in the League Cup last week. Physically and mentally he struggled against experienced opponents. Wenger felt he had been "inhibited".
The teenager would not have been on the bench here but for the absence of Thierry Henry, Nwankwo Kanu, Sylvain Wiltord and Jeremie Aliadiere. Even the most talented youngsters have to be patient at Arsenal. Yet with Kanu and Wiltord expected to depart next summer, and Bergkamp's future uncertain, opportunities ought to multiply for Bentley before long.
"I've known David for a season and a half and he has so much talent there that it is just a matter of developing it," Bergkamp said. "He reminds me of myself in certain things, particularly in his positioning on the pitch and his decision-making, what to do next and where to make runs.
"Just before he scored I was thinking 'If you get the chance try and chip him'. That is what came up in his mind as well and that shows he has got a great footballing brain . . . He is a good example of what the boss wants in a player. He likes players who can do something special and make a difference."
Bentley has tended to be used at left midfield in the League Cup, though his preferred position is as a link striker in the Bergkamp mould, and Wenger said his "gut feeling" was that the player's future lay in attack.
A certainty is Bentley does not lack self-belief. He was a little too eager to impress either side of his goal, which was scored with his weaker, left foot. His first act was to insist on taking a free-kick.
"You cannot say he lacks confidence," Wenger said. The manager would like to gradually increase the number of first-team members at Arsenal who have come through the ranks. "They are happy where they are," he said, "and the easiest way to get the spirit of the club through is through the youth system."
Bentley capped a match that Arsenal dominated, particularly in the second half. Their passing and movement were superior and the team put four past Boro for the third time this season. Steve McClaren started Juninho on the bench with Wednesday's League Cup return - his priority - in mind.
Arsenal defended well, led by Sol Campbell, and controlled midfield, where Bolo Zenden and Gaizka Mendieta disappointed. Ray Parlour stood out with his determination, encapsulated when he kept a ball in play Stuart Parnaby thought would run out and crossed for Bergkamp to put Arsenal into the lead.
Bergkamp was clearly still feeling his way back from injury but Freddie Ljungberg ended concerns that Arsenal would be short of goals without Henry. After Joseph-Desire Job equalised sharply after holding off Kolo Toure, the Swede fired in neatly and then headed in a corner.
Boro missed Gareth Southgate and Ugo Ehiogu, mustered only two shots on target and were reduced to 10 men when George Boateng was dismissed for two bookings. Then Bentley put his seal on the match.
"You have to give him time because it's not easy with the strength and the pace of the Premiership," Bergkamp said. "But this has been a good start."
Guardian Service
