Arsenal hold on to claim victory over Forest

Arsenal claimed all three points against Nottingham Forest in their opening game of the 2023/24 Premier League season.

Fans at the Emirates Stadium got to see three new signings on the team sheet with Jurrien Timber, Declan Rice, and Kai Havertz all starting while Matt Turner was in between the sticks for Forest to take on his old club.

It was the visitors who had the best chance to take the lead when Brennan Johnson was in behind the defence but couldn’t keep his effort down.

Both of Arsenal’s goals were of the highest quality. First, Gabriel Martinelli’s fantastic turn to set up Eddie Nketiah was a thing of beauty.

That was true of the second goal when Forest couldn’t clear their lines with William Saliba laying the ball off to Bukayo Saka. The England international then fired an unstoppable shot from the edge of the area that Turner had no chance of stopping.

It was all going well for Arsenal until early in the second half when Jurrien Timber was forced off after not recovering from an injury picked up in the first half.

Forest grew into the game late on although they would have been 3-0 down if Matt Turner hadn't been able to push Rice’s effort onto the post.

Arsenal fans were given a nervy end to the game when Forest rapidly broke from a corner. Taiwo Awoniyi took the ball out before laying it onto new arrival Anthony Elanga. The Swedish forward used his pace well to drive into the Arsenal box before squaring the ball for Awoniyi to score.

Steve Cooper’s team weren’t able to mount a late comeback though with Arsenal eventually earning all three points.

Three points on the board 🎯 pic.twitter.com/Cu5Rs0rRGU

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 12, 2023