Marking their return from September’s international break on Saturday lunchtime, Arsenal breezed their way to an empathic 3-0 victory at home against Nottingham Forest.
While Ange Postecoglou’s immediate north London return might have stolen plenty of the pre-match headlines, Forest were completely dominated across the park and Arsenal took a deserved lead just after the half-hour mark as summer recruit Martin Zubimendi produced a thunderous volley from outside the box.
In complete control from the opening whistle, the Gunners doubled their advantage just seconds after the half-time break as Viktor Gyokeres tapped home and notched a third Premier League strike of the season.
Not showing any signs of a hangover after heading into September’s fortnight interval with a close-fought 1-0 defeat away at Liverpool, Zubimendi added a shock third in the 79th-minute as the Spanish international headed home at the back stick.
Storming back out of the traps, Arsenal’s routine 3-0 victory has temporarily moved them to the top of the table.
As for Forest, enduring what has been a public rollercoaster over the past week, the European returners drastically failed to find any kind of fluidity and Postecoglou’s tenure couldn’t have got off to a worse start.
On an afternoon when the Gunners underlined their title credentials, we have taken a look at the main talking points from the Emirates.
Arteta gets the response he was demanding
Forced to settle for another silver medal finish among England’s elite last season as they eventually finished 10 points adrift of Liverpool, Arsenal are desperate to get their hands on a first Premier League crown since 2004.
However, suffering late heartbreak at Anfield prior to September’s international break as they fell to a 1-0 loss away at the defending champions, Saturday’s hosts were desperately seeking an immediate response here.
Enjoying what couldn’t have been more of a routine afternoon in north London, Arsenal didn’t show any signs of a hangover at the Emirates.
Last seen in north London prior to Saturday’s showdown cruising their way to a dominant 5-0 romp against Premier League returners Leeds, Arteta’s title contenders have continued to shine on home soil.
In fact, winning their first two top-flight contests at the Emirates by an aggregate score of 8-0, they have also lost just a pair of Premier League defeats in front of their own supporters so far this calendar year.
Arsenal’s summer recruits light up north London
While England international Bukayo Saka might have been forced to miss out on Saturday lunchtime after picking up a recent knock, Arsenal didn’t show any signs of a struggle in the final third.
Watching both Thomas Partey and ex-Chelsea skipper Jorginho leave the Emirates on respective free transfers over the summer, Arteta had made Zubimendi his number one midfield target.
Making an immediate impact since arriving from Spanish outfit Real Sociedad, the 26-year-old scored a top-flight brace here for the first time in his club career and underlined how good Arsenal’s summer recruitment has been.
With the English duo of Noni Madueke and Eberechi Eze running rampant on either flank, fans around the Emirates will also be excited to see their new striking superstar extend on his bright start to life in the capital.
Tapping home from close range just seconds after returning from the half-time break, Gyokeres has already registered three Premier League strikes and could be the man to end Arsenal’s two-decade wait for a domestic title.
A nightmare north London return for Ange
With news breaking late on Monday night that Nuno Espírito Santo had dramatically been removed from his position at the City Ground, Nottingham Forest have endured a rollercoaster few days behind the scenes.
Taking no time to announce Postecoglou’s arrival, it was almost written in the stars that the former Celtic boss would get his Nottingham tenure underway with an immediate return to north London.
While the Australian tactician might have ended Tottenham’s 17-year wait to lift a piece of silverware back in May as Spurs were crowned Europa League champions thanks to a famous night in Bilbao, Postecoglou was quickly out the door.
However, only without a new adventure for a few months, the 60-year-old could have a real job on his hands at the City Ground.
Heading into September’s international break with another 3-0 drumming at home against West Ham, Forest have now recorded just a pair of wins from any of their previous 10 meetings against Premier League opposition.
Match Report
Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Mosquera, Gabriel, Calafiori, Odegaard, Zubimendi, Merino, Madueke, Gyokeres, Eze
Subs: Lewis-Skelly, Rice, Nwaneri, Trossard, Martinelli
Nottingham Forest: Sels, Williams, Milenkovic, Murillo, Morato, Sangare, Anderson, Gibbs-White, Ndoye, Hudson-Odoi, Wood
Subs: Savona, Bakwa, McAtee, Yates, Kalimuendo
Goals: Zubimendi (32’, 79’), Gyokeres (46’)
Yellow Cards: Arsenal: Calafiori – Nottingham Forest: Williams
Red Cards: N/A
Referee: Darren England
