Result: Arsenal 3 – 0 Nottingham Forest
Competition: Premier League
Date: 23 November 2024
Venue: Emirates Stadium
Arsenal: Raya, Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, Calafiori, Jorginho, Merino, Odegaard, Trossard, Saka, Jesus
Subs: Neto, Kiwior, Zinchenko, Partey, Nwaneri, Rice, Martinelli, Havertz, Sterling
Arsenal looked fresh and motivated after the international break, dominating Nottingham Forest at home with a 3-0 win.
Bukayo Saka put Arsenal ahead with a rasping strike within 14 minutes. Despite controlling the first half, the home side had to wait until early into the second half to double their lead through a Thomas Partey goal.
Ethan Nwaneri, coming on as a sub, made it three with a well taken strike late into the game.
Pre-Match
It was a heavily rotated team that made the starting eleven against Forest. Timber shifted to right back as Calafiori returned to the side after a month out.
Jorginho got a surprise start in midfield, supporting Merino and the skipper ahead of him. The front line also saw changes with Saka fit again at right wing, with Jesus starting up front and Trossard coming in from the left.
First Half
Arsenal could have been two goals up within five minutes but their purposeful attacks were dampened by marginal offsides. The first was a scramble in the box and another, a Timber tap in from a Merino knockdown during the free kick routine. Unfortunately the Spainard was adjudged to have been a fraction offside in the build up.
The play from then on was a lot slower, deliverate and more structured with Jorginho pulling the strings from the base of midfield.
Without Havertz, the team reverted to a more intricate style of play with Jesus recapturing some of his form. It was a flurry of movement, chops and flicks which caught the eye in the first half, with Bukayo Saka looking dangerous with his attempts on goal.
It was on 14 minutes where Saka dealt a killer blow. Odegaard played Saka in to the inside right channel with a subtle flick. Our winger looked to have held on the ball too long, teasing and dribbling across towards the left before unleashing a drive into the far post. 1-0 Saka
The rest of the half was a masterclass in possession and Arsenal looked irresistable with their touches and movement. Forest didn’t manage to land a blow but the Gunners would have feel aggrieved to not have turned all that possession into a second goal.
Second Half
Arteta switched Partey on for Jorginho at the start of the second half to protect the latter from a second booking.
The Ghanaian was responsible for quickening the pace though Forest also upped the tempo in search for an equaliser. The game looked more open, both ways, and the home side were in danger of allowing Forest back into the game.
Those fears were alleviated just 6 minutes in when the sub, Partey, made his mark with a rasping shot from outside the box that nestled into the net. 2-0 Partey
As the game progressed, Trossard moved more centrally and Odegaard roamed to collect the ball deep more often, controlling the play. It was slick but the team lacked incision into the final third to finish the game off.
Forest also started to gain more confidence, and played more direct with Chris Wood coming on and Calafiori being replaced by Zinchenko who could be more exposed aerially.
As the game approached the final ten minutes, the game looked to have slowed down for both teams as Arsenal wrestled control. But substitute, Nwaneri, didn’t get the memo. Coming on for Odegaard, he upped the tempo, drove into the box, exchanged passes with Sterling and made it 3-0 with his first attempt of the night. 3-0 Nwaneri
A very convincing win for the Gunners as they return to the hunt to climb up the table. What’s promising is that key players like Saka and Odegaard looked sharper after getting a break from international games.
Havertz and Rice never got off the bench, having their legs saved for a gruelling schedule ahead. Here’s to more from the Arsenal.
Never out of third gear and still looked totally dominant. Now we have to string together the wins. We need 28 points from the next 10. No margin for error.
It felt like the good old days today. Effortless and controlled with moments of sublime individual brilliance.
Onwards. Upwards.
COYG!
I counted 30. We are exceptional and looking at the bench Midfield is starting to look good again. Ethan cooking nicely, Odegaard, what a baller! Moreno will kick on, there are flashes, Partey staying healthy and playing some good football. I think when fully fit no one can stop us besides PGMOL.
Side note: I feel for GJ, he needs a goal, even if it has to hit his dingers and go in, anything.
So there’s a 2 point margin for error then?
I’m just being pedantic hehehehehe
Welcome back captain!
Just an exceptional football player !
I’m calling him Big Yellow Taxi from now on.
Don’t it always seem to go,
That you don’t know what you got ’til it’s gone?
We literally can’t play football without him. Sort of puts to bed the Arsenal MVP argument too…
Bukayo is still the crown jewel. We all saw that opening goal right? I love Odegaard but for me there is no debate.
Kind of a pointless debate when both players require the other to reach their top form. The fact that we have two players of similar technical quality coupled with the level of unselfishness bordering on artistry playing together is the real thing to marvel at. Mo/Saka very similar in connection to Bergkamp/Henry, there is an intangible there.
We have to talk about Trossard
He’s very sloppy with his passing.
Already dreaming of empty stadiums and institutional misogyny.
we got our arsenal back !
and villa got their emery back !
Yes it was. Great bit of skill and curled just wide a couple of mins before.
No such thing as a sure thing in this game. But Ethan is a sure fucking thing.
Perfect…
I must’ve missed the atomic wedgie handed out to Chris Wood for chances squandered against City.
Every time I see his face I remember the chances he against city last season. It almost felt on purpose.
Just what the doctor ordered
Looks like he wasn’t able to cure Forest’s altitude sickness…
The Arsenal we know and proud of.
Welcome back captain.
It was almost fitting that after some terrible officiating including 3 fraudulent yellow cards to Arsenal, the idiotic referee provided the perfect decoy for TP’s goal.
By the way there were two more occasions today when Forest players delayed the restart and didn’t get booked. Letter of the law my Arsenal.
T5’s half-volley to restart play!
LOL.
Straight outta NBA Jam 2000.
These refs. Such a cluster fuck of dimwits.
I also wonder if the center blocked the keeper’s vision.
Onwards and upwards. This looked more like the Arsenal we have come know and love. first half saw N Forest totally chasing shadows. Now for more of the same please.
We are so back 😉
Its amazing the difference fit players can make.
By the way congratulations to Ethan. A cameo on Tuesday awaits.
We are back baby! 1 Down 26 more finals to go, We can do it. COYG!
It’s getting to that time of the year when the team pick up the impeccable form.
That was an awesome performance. It underlines how much we have missed Odegaard.
Come on You Rip-Roaring Gunners. 💪💪💪
As Andy Townsend would say, at weird times at the height of his ITV co-commentary pomp…Better
Good stuff. More of the same please.
We need another striker/winger/false 9 type player to be able to go all the way. Gabriel Jesus is not him
Martin Odegaard take a bow son! Guy was everywhere today
The Ø comeback hitting like crack
Fantastic! Now let’s hope that Liverpool does a Cheaty and loses five on a trot. That’d be really handy
Didn’t like Jesus being annoyed when Nwaneri scored.
That’s just his face
Watch it back, after Saka strikes it he has a go at Sterling for not passing to him instead. People downvote me all they like it doesn’t change that it happened.
How were any of the yellow cards doled out to Arsenal anything close to being yellow cards? Can PGMOL please explain…
“It was an Arsenal player, so therefore it had to be a yellow card. There is no other way. It says so in our handbook.”
Wasn’t the goal Ethan’s 2nd attempt? The first was after a Limpar style shirt of the hips