ARSENAL ran riot against Nottingham Forest as they charged back to the top of the Premier League with a 5-0 victory.
England ace Bukayo Saka was forced off injured in the first half.
But Saka’s replacement Reiss Nelson has helped himself to a double alongside strikes for Gabriel Martinelli, Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard.
- Result: Arsenal 5-0 Nottingham Forest
- Arsenal XI: Ramsdale; White, Saliba, Gabriel Magalhaes, Tomiyasu; Partey, Xhaka; Saka, Odegaard, Martinelli; Jesus
- Forest XI: Henderson; Aurier, Cook, McKenna, Lodi; Yates, Freuler, Kouyate; Gibbs-White, Awoniyi, Lingard
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Stat attack
Thomas Partey completed 103 passes today. That’s the most passes in one match by an Arsenal player in over two years.
His team-mate Granit Xhaka was the last player to complete more.
. Super sub
Reiss Nelson was drawn into the action after Bukayo Saka was forced off with an injury inside the first half hour.
The substitute stepped up to the plate, scoring two goals in three minutes before setting up Partey for Arsenal’s fourth.
What a way to announce yourself.
. FULL TIME – Arsenal 5-0 Nottingham Forest
Arsenal return to the top of the Premier League table in style, putting Nottingham Forest to the sword.
Five goals with no reply. A wonderful day out for those fans.
Arteta applauds the fans with a calm look on his face, as though this is the norm. It is becoming increasingly so for the Gunners now.
What a performance against a very vulnerable Forest side.
Stay with us for reaction.
Arsenal 5-0 Nottingham Forest
90, There will be three minutes added time here.
Arsenal are playing with such fluency now, and when they do lose it they win it back so quickly. It must be draining to play against.
Arsenal 5-0 Nottingham Forest
87, Nelson gets to the by-line and plays a ball across that just evades Odegaard.
It falls to Jesus who’s shot is blocked. Partey is then urged to shoot and obliges, this time sending an effort high into the stands.
You can’t win them all.
Arsenal 5-0 Nottingham Forest
84, White flicks on the header and Jesus so nearly rounds off the perfect afternoon at the back-post. But Cook just does enough to put him off. Mind you, that looked easier to score!
You sense Forest desperately want the final whistle now.
GOAL! – Arsenal 5-0 Nottingham Forest
77, Odegaard makes it five!
Arsenal just can’t stop scoring.
Partey fires a pass into Jesus who does so well to hold off his man before finding Odegaard. The rest was all about the skipper, dancing past the challenges before smashing it into the roof of the net.
. Arsenal 4-0 Nottingham Forest
76, Ben White looks as though he is going to tuck into centre-back, his usual position, for the first time this season.
Arsenal 4-0 Nottingham Forest
75, Last two changes for Arsenal.
Nketiah and Tierney are on.
Xhaka and Saliba are off.
Every player is getting a hero’s reception.
Arsenal 4-0 Nottingham Forest
73, Williams does well to find Dennis who can’t release the ball in time.
It’s a really difficult game for Forest to play now.
Arsenal 4-0 Nottingham Forest
68, Odegaard slides a pass in behind and Worrall judges this one well, sliding in on Jesus and winning the ball.
Arsenal 4-0 Nottingham Forest
67, Worrall loses flight of the ball and Jesus is in behind. Henderson does really well to smother the chance.
. Arsenal 4-0 Nottingham Forest
66, Nelson is playing with such confidence now. He skips inside and curls in a dangerous ball to the back stick which Vieira can’t control.
It was a big call for Arteta to bring him on ahead of the likes of Vieira and Marquinhos but it has certainly paid off.
Arsenal 4-0 Nottingham Forest
64, Worrall and Williams are both on for the visitors.
Lodi and Awoniyi are off.
They look to be lining up in a back three now.
Arsenal 4-0 Nottingham Forest
64, Tomiyasu is also off. Vieira is on.
Arsenal 4-0 Nottingham Forest
63, Martinelli is off to a standing ovation.
That performance won’t have done him any harm for his World cup chances with Brazil.
Cedric is on in his place.
Arsenal 4-0 Nottingham Forest
59, Johnson gives the ball away cheaply and Odegaard plays it through to Jesus who can’t beat Henderson. That would have been the icing on the cake.
GOAL! – Arsenal 4-0 Nottingham Forest
57, Arsenal have a fourth!
Partey with an absolute beauty.
Nelson turns provider this time, teeing up Partey who bends it inside Henderson’s near post from 25 yards.
Almost an exact replica from the one he scored against Spurs in the North London derby.
The Arsenal fans inside here are in dreamland!
. Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest
56, Steve Cooper is going to switch things around.
Johnson and Dennis are on. Gibbs-White and Lingard make way after failing to make a real impact.
Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest
54, What an impact from Reiss Nelson.
Two goals in 3 minutes!
Jesus provider for both goals.
Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest
Odegaard protects the ball in the area and lays off Jesus who finds Nelson in the box. The Englishman makes no mistake, flicking the ball into the bottom corner.
Arsenal in full control and are heading back to the top of the table!
.
GOAL! – Arsenal 3-0 Nottingham Forest
52, Nelson has another!
Arsenal are flying.
Arsenal 2-0 Nottingham Forest
Nelson scores his first Premier League goal in over 2 years! What a moment for the young man.
Xhaka made a typically clever run from midfield, and Partey found him with a defence splitting pass. The Swiss cuts it back to Jesus who is unselfish and lays off Nelson. The substitute checks inside and finishes into the top corner after his initial shot is saved.
. GOAL! – Arsenal 2-0 Nottingham Forest
49, Nelson doubles Arsenal’s lead!
Arsenal 1-0 Nottingham Forest
48, Tomiyasu digs out a brilliant cross with his weaker foot and Jesus gets his head to it but it’s straight at Henderson.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
